Dertig kreuzer, noodmunt uit Mantua, tijdens het beleg geslagen door generaal Gorkowski ter ere van Ferdinand I, keizer van Oostenrijk 1848

This small coin, likely minted in Mantua by the Monogrammist GM, exists as a potent symbol of power, resilience, and the everyday struggles of 19th-century life. Commissioned during a siege by General Gorkowski to honor Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria, this 'noodmunt' or emergency coin, encapsulates a moment of crisis and the strategies employed to maintain authority and economic function. The coin's imagery—likely a portrait of Ferdinand I— served as a constant reminder of the Emperor's presence and power, reinforcing loyalty among the besieged population. During times of conflict money becomes more than just a medium of exchange; it’s a psychological tool, a way to stabilize a community teetering on the edge of chaos. Coins like these offer a glimpse into how leadership used symbolic representation to rally support and maintain a semblance of order. They are quiet witnesses to the complex interplay between power, identity, and survival in a world constantly reshaped by conflict.