Twintig stuiver, noodmunt uit Doornik door de bondgenoten ingenomen, geslagen op last van maarschalk de Surville Possibly 1709

Curator: What a peculiar little thing. It’s so…angular! Almost aggressive for a coin. Editor: This is "Twintig stuiver, noodmunt uit Doornik door de bondgenoten ingenomen, geslagen op last van maarschalk de Surville," a form of emergency coinage, likely dating to 1709. Curator: Ah, so that explains the shape. Makes me wonder about the hands that made it, so hurried, so desperate. And that metal, is it pewter? Editor: Likely. This square piece of metal speaks volumes, doesn't it? Look at it – a symbol of resilience born from conflict, crafted under duress. It reminds us that even currency can become a statement of resistance and a record of occupation. The “bondgenoten” you see in the title refer to the allied forces which consisted of the English and Dutch Republic. Curator: There’s a profile of…a rather stoic looking fellow on one side, though barely discernible. Funny how a portrait can still carry so much weight, even when crudely etched on what looks like a discarded sheet of metal. Editor: Indeed, the portrait, though simple, hints at the power structures at play, the authorities needing to maintain order and confidence in a chaotic situation. The figure acts as a guarantee. And notice the baroque influence, despite the circumstances. Curator: It does feel like the echo of something grander, shrunk and flattened. The "twintig stuiver" part of the name, "Twenty Stuivers" - was that its actual value or was that symbolic? Editor: Both, probably. But I imagine its true worth resided in its function of restoring a sense of financial continuity. Currency becomes something different entirely during periods of turmoil—it is almost like social glue, something that creates trust when little remains. Curator: Makes you wonder about what else we deem "valuable," and how quickly those values can shift under pressure, doesn't it? A coin can mean everything, but perhaps mean nothing too. I will always think of this square nugget, out of all the more obvious pieces in this gallery, as one of the true standouts. Editor: Absolutely. It acts as a tangible link to a history of conflict, demonstrating the deep and multifaceted ways people confront crises. An amazing demonstration of Baroque influences under the crushing pressures of war.