20 Stuivers Siege of 1625

Breda fell to Spinola's Spanish forces in June 1625 after a ten-month siege — an event famous enough that Velázquez painted it. This coin was struck inside the besieged city as municipal silver ran desperately short, the garrison and civilian population cut off from any resupply. Siege coinages of this type were emergency issues made from whatever plate and bullion the city could commandeer, struck to pay troops and maintain some semblance of monetary order behind the walls.

The city surrendered shortly after minting. Most examples that survived did so in collections, not pockets.