Beleg van Gulik door Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk, noodmunt met het gewicht van een kwart rijksdaalder, vervaardigd uit munt, bestempeld met het monogram van Frederik Pithaen Possibly 1621 - 1629

This is a quarter rijksdaalder, made of silver during the siege of Gulik by Albrecht, Archduke of Austria in 1621. Note its octagonal shape, a striking departure from the traditional round coin, immediately marking it as unconventional. The coin's surface is densely inscribed with text and symbols, dominated by the monogram of Frederik Pithaen. The arrangement of these elements is not merely decorative but structured, almost heraldic. The central inscription, framed by the year, is surrounded by shield-like emblems. The octagonal form challenges the conventional associations of coins with stability and economic order, reflecting the instability of its creation during a siege. The emphasis on text over image further signifies a shift in the coin's function. It is not just a medium of exchange, but a declaration, a statement of authority and resilience in a time of crisis. Consider how the coin, through its form and markings, becomes a potent symbol of power and resistance, embodying the complex interplay of economics, politics, and representation.