Siege money

In the early modern period, it was necessary in Europe because at that time coinage had an intrinsic value and even though a town was besieged commerce had to continue and soldiers had to be paid.

In 1524 siege money was produced by Antonio de Leyva, Imperial Commander of the garrison at Pavia in northern Italy.

[4] In a 19 December 1573 church sermon, preacher Taling rebuked the city magistrate, comparing them to pigs and asserting the coins should have said haec religionis ergo ("this is about religion").

[4] Secretary Jan van Hout was furious, pulled out his gun and asked mayor Pieter Adriaansz.

[7] During the Second English Civil War the besieged garrison of Pontefract Castle issued siege money.

A lozenge-shaped shilling minted at Newark during the 1646 siege.
1574 coin from the siege of Leiden .
The reverse side (left) states in Dutch: "May God protect Leiden".
The obverse side (right) states in Latin: "This is about liberty". [ note 1 ]