stuiver, noodmunt uit Breda, geslagen tijdens het beleg door Spinola Possibly 1625

This small, square copper coin was made anonymously in 1625 during a time of siege and upheaval. It is a 'stuiver', or emergency coin, from Breda, struck during Spinola's siege. Think about the desperation and resilience that this object represents. In times of conflict, ordinary systems break down and new forms of exchange emerge, reflecting a community's will to survive. The crude, almost brutalist form of this coin speaks volumes about the conditions under which it was made. Its very existence challenges traditional notions of currency, value, and power. Consider the hands that might have clutched this coin, exchanging it for bread or a moment of safety. This stuiver isn't just a piece of metal; it is a material witness to a complex history of conflict, survival, and the human spirit.