Sieges and Siege Money
One of the most famous sieges in European history was the Siege of Vienna (1683)
by the Ottoman army of Mehmet IV (1648-1687), which was halted by the Polish army of
Jan III Sobieski (1674-1696). During the course of the English Civil Wars (1642-1651) between forces loyal to Charles I and the Parliamentary
forces, cities were frequently under siege and without proper money. To solve such
crises, silver plate was cut up and stamped as "siege money."
Polish silver 6 groschen (1683) with
a portrait of Jan Sobieski.
Ottoman silver dinar (1648) of
Sultan Mehmet IV.
English silver crown pattern by
Nicolas Briot with a portrait of Charles I (1625-1649). Briot, a Frenchman, was an
early proponent of machine minting.
1997.207.25
English silver crown (1644)
showing Charles I on horseback with the town of Oxford in the background.
English gold broad (1656) with a
portrait of Oliver Cromwell, who rose to power in the Civil Wars.
English silver 2 shilling siege
piece from Scarborough (1645) made from the end of a spoon and showing the castle
gate and towers.
1877.207.22
English silver 7 pence siege piece
from Scarborough (1645) showing the castle gate and towers.
English silver 1/2 crown siege
piece from Newark (1646) depicting the royal crown.