Vier pence, noodmunt van Karel I, koning van Engeland te Ormond geslagen van het door de ingezetenen opgebrachte zilver 1643

Curator: This intriguing object from the Rijksmuseum is a four-pence coin, specifically a piece of emergency money issued by Charles I, King of England, in 1643. It was struck in Ormond from silver contributed by the locals. Editor: My first thought is just how raw it feels. You can clearly see the imprecision of its making; the edges are roughly formed and the details aren't sharply rendered, giving it a really powerful sense of immediacy. Curator: Indeed. The fact that it was created from locally sourced silver really speaks to the urgent circumstances surrounding its creation. These weren’t ideal times; there was political and economic turmoil. This coin becomes a symbol of resilience born of scarcity. Editor: Absolutely. The imagery chosen must have had deep symbolic resonance for the people then. A crown on one side obviously signified royal authority, but on the reverse, the three lines and what looks like a small wing must surely signify something further. Curator: You're right, these aren't arbitrary choices. The three lines are usually taken to represent the three kingdoms under Charles I: England, Scotland, and Ireland, united, while the coronet perhaps references Ormond. The iconography serves to reassure, uniting imagery with value when all seemed to fall apart. Editor: Which all comes back to materiality, doesn't it? Its rough fabrication almost enhances that symbolism for me. The uneven texture, the unrefined form of the metal… these are traces of labor, desperation, and a community rallying around a besieged king. This small object encapsulates so much! Curator: It certainly transcends its monetary value. Examining the context of production allows us to truly appreciate the convergence of social pressure and the physical properties of a humble metal. A raw piece, born out of struggle, now a relic with so much to say. Editor: Right. Beyond being an economic instrument, the coin resonates with human drama, which is perhaps one of its strongest, lasting values.