livre, noodmunt uit Aire, geslagen tijdens het beleg door de Spanjaarden 1641

This ‘livre’ or coin, was made anonymously during the siege of Aire by the Spanish. The coin is made of silver and was likely struck using a hammer and dies. The hammered quality of this coin is what I find most interesting. When a city was under siege, resources became scarce, including the precious metals used for currency. Emergency coinage, like this, was often made using whatever materials were available. The irregular shape suggests that the silversmith was working in haste, using roughly cut blanks. The crudeness of the strike speaks volumes about the conditions under which it was made. The history of coinage is deeply intertwined with conflict and economic uncertainty. By understanding the processes and social context behind this object we get a sense of the pressures of a city under siege, and how even the most basic functions of society are impacted. This piece reminds us that even small, everyday objects can carry significant historical weight.