1/4 Daalder Silver

Zierikzee, on the Zeeland island of Schouwen-Duiveland, held out against a Spanish siege from late 1575 into the summer of 1576. When the town's silver supply ran low, municipal authorities authorized emergency coinage struck from whatever bullion could be sourced locally — church plate, domestic silver, seized goods. The resulting pieces are irregular in weight and flan quality, and no two are quite alike.

The town ultimately surrendered in July 1576 after the relieving Sea Beggar fleet was defeated. Most siege money was melted or spent immediately; survivors reached the collector market through church and municipal hoards discovered centuries later.