Taler, noodmunt op naam van Kristóf Báthory (1576-1581), geslagen tijdens de oorlog tegen de Turken in Transsylvanië 1580

This silver coin was minted anonymously between 1576 and 1581 in Transylvania during the war against the Turks. Money, like all images, is never neutral, so let’s consider the cultural and historical meanings of this coin. As a form of emergency currency, this ‘noodmunt’ speaks to the dire economic conditions brought about by the conflict. The very act of minting such a coin, outside of established institutions, could be seen as an act of resistance, an attempt to maintain economic stability in the face of war. The coin bears the name of Kristóf Báthory, then Prince of Transylvania, and the coat of arms, embedding the coin in a very specific political and social context. To fully understand this object, we might research the political history of Transylvania, the biography of Kristóf Báthory, and numismatic studies to understand its economic function. By doing so, the coin offers a glimpse into a society struggling for survival.