Beleg van Gulik door Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk, noodmunt met het gewicht van een kwart rijksdaalder, vervaardigd uit Dicken van Johann II, graaf van Pfalz-Zweibrucken, bestempeld met het mo Possibly 1621 - 1629

Editor: This object is a quarter rijksdaalder, a silver coin, dating from possibly 1621 to 1629. It's connected to the Siege of Gulik and was created by Albrecht, Archduke of Austria. It feels quite austere, almost brutal in its simplicity. What strikes you when you look at this coin? Curator: This piece is less about aesthetics and more about necessity and power dynamics during conflict. Think about the material itself: silver, often associated with wealth, is here stamped and repurposed during a siege. It speaks volumes about the socio-political turmoil of the time. Do you consider how a seemingly small object, like this coin, embodies resistance against imperial power? Editor: Resistance? I mainly see economic pragmatism, but tell me more about the resistance aspect. Curator: Well, consider this: by creating their own currency from existing materials, those besieged were declaring a kind of economic independence. The act of restamping proclaims “We control our resources; we define our value.” This act challenges the authority of the Austrian Habsburgs. How might ordinary people view these objects in times of intense socio-political polarization? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn’t thought about the restamping as an act of defiance. It does make you wonder about the stories each coin could tell. Curator: Precisely! And the forced re-use of resources that might have a specific historic connotation. It represents power, struggle, and everyday resilience during times of crisis. Editor: I’ll definitely look at similar pieces with fresh eyes now. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Recognizing art as a vehicle of resistance allows us to challenge the status quo in today's conversations about art.