taler; vier eenheden?, noodmunt uit Frankenthal, geslagen tijdens het beleg door Verdugo 1623

This is a silver Taler, or coin, which was produced anonymously in Frankenthal, Germany, during the town's siege by Verdugo. As a piece of currency produced during conflict, the Taler speaks to a moment of extreme duress and ingenuity within the social structures of 16th century Germany. The coin’s crude, square shape and the rough stamping, illustrate the constraints of its making. During times of siege, resources are scarce, and normal minting processes are often impossible. Instead, local authorities or even the besieged population themselves would create emergency currency to maintain economic activity. We can contextualize this coin through an understanding of the economic and political history of the Holy Roman Empire, in which Frankenthal was located. The desperation of the time is evident in the coin’s design; it is a functional object born out of social and economic necessity. By studying such objects, and placing them in their specific social and institutional context, we gain insight into the daily lives and struggles of people in the past.