Shilling; twaalf pence, noodmunt uit Pontefract, uit het beleg door Oliver Cromwell 1648

This small, octagonal silver coin was made anonymously during the siege of Pontefract by Oliver Cromwell. It’s a shilling, or 'twaalf pence'– twelve pence. What is remarkable about this coin is that it was born out of crisis. Pontefract was under siege, and the usual supply chains had broken down. In a situation like this, the normal process of minting coins grinds to a halt. This little object testifies to human ingenuity under duress. The coin's crude execution speaks volumes. It is not perfectly round, and the imagery is stamped rather than finely engraved. You can see the rough and ready circumstances of its making. The raw materiality of the silver is paramount. Think of it: this coin represents a desperate attempt to maintain some semblance of economic order during wartime. It underscores how deeply money is embedded in our social structures, and how people will find a way to produce it, no matter what. A reminder that the most precious things can emerge from the most unpromising situations.