Beleg van Tarrgona door de Fransen, noodmunt van vijf pesetas, geslagen door Ferdinand VII, koning van Spanje 1809

This is a five-peseta coin, a “necessity coin”, minted in Tarragona under the reign of Ferdinand VII during the French siege of 1809. Coins are usually signs of prosperity and power, but this one tells a different story. It speaks of conflict, scarcity, and survival. The French siege of Tarragona was part of the Peninsular War, a brutal conflict within the larger Napoleonic Wars. This coin bears witness to a time when ordinary life was disrupted, and the usual markers of economic stability were upended. Coins like this one offer a glimpse into the daily lives of people living through extraordinary circumstances. It acts as a reminder of the human cost of war, the resilience of communities under siege, and the ingenuity born out of necessity. It is a small object, but its value lies in the weight of history it carries, prompting us to reflect on how societies function—or don't—under pressure.