Eenentwintig stuiver, imitatie van een noodmunt uit Kampen, geslagen tijdens het beleg, gemaakt door Karl Wilhelm Becker 1815 - 1825

This piece, an imitation of a siege coin from Kampen, was crafted by Karl Wilhelm Becker. The cold, tactile silver of the coin presents a curious symmetry, offering a glimpse into both historical crisis and artistic interpretation. The coin’s octagonal form, with its clipped corners, frames an embossed design, lending the coin a unique visual structure. The composition of symbols—crenellated walls, heraldic shields, and inscribed text—are arranged within a rigid, almost architectural format. This structure creates a sense of order, yet the imitation itself introduces a layer of instability, questioning the authenticity and value we assign to historical artifacts. Becker’s meticulous craftsmanship invites us to consider not only the coin’s symbolic weight but its materiality and its inherent artifice. The interplay between genuine artifact and imitation serves as a commentary on our perception of value, urging us to consider how meaning is constructed.