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5 Stuivers text on reverse
| Issuer | Siege of Amsterdam (Dutch Republic) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1578 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Klippe |
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| Obverse description | Crowned coat of arms of the city of Amsterdam centrally placed in the field, flanking the date 1578 divided across the coin and the denomination expressed in Roman numerals (V S). The heraldic shield is rendered in a bold, primitive emergency-issue style typical of siege coinage. The date and value numerals are positioned to either side of the arms, serving both as legend and compositional elements within the design. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Three lines of abbreviated Latin text — P / AR · ET / FO — displayed prominently in the field within a circular wreath composed of stylized laurel or floral branches, adorned with rosette or pellet ornaments at intervals. The legend is an abbreviation of the motto PRO ARIS ET FOCIS (For altar and hearth), a patriotic declaration befitting the siege context. The wreath terminates at top and bottom with decorative floral stops, and the overall composition is enclosed within the square klippe flan with clipped corners, consistent with emergency hammered coinage of the period. |
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| Additional information |
Amsterdam's 1578 siege coinage was struck under occupation by Spanish-aligned forces — the city had not yet joined the revolt and was blockaded by the Prince of Orange's fleet. Emergency money was produced from whatever silver could be gathered, melted, and crudely struck to meet immediate transactional need. The HPM classification places this among the earliest documented siege issues of the Dutch Revolt.
The text-only reverse is a direct consequence of haste and limited die-cutting resources, not an aesthetic choice.