1/2 Stuiver Silver, klippe

Leiden's siege mint operated under extraordinary conditions during the Spanish blockade of 1573–1574, one of the most brutal sieges of the Dutch Revolt. With no proper minting equipment available inside the besieged city, coins were struck on roughly cut square (klippe) blanks from whatever silver could be sourced — including cut church plate and personal donations. The garrison and civilian population were simultaneously dying of plague and starvation when these pieces were produced.

The "var" designation against HPM#Le 04.1 likely indicates a die difference or blank-cutting irregularity, neither of which is surprising given the improvised nature of production. No two klippe from this siege are truly identical.