Twelve emergency coins from Dutch cities, anonymous, 1576
striking (metalworking), h 5.1cm × w 5.1cm × w 31.30gr More details
The cities besieged by the Spanish army for having revolted against Spanish rule in the 1570s experienced severe shortages of virtually everything, including money to pay the soldiers. Emergency money was therefore minted. Gold, silver, paper: anything in the cities under siege could be used as temporary currency.
