⅛ Stuiver "Oirtstuiver" (Arnhem)

The 1491 Oirtstuiver, or 1/8 Stuiver, was minted during the reign of Charles van Egmond, Duke of Guelders, in the city of Arnhem. This small copper-based coinage emerged during a period of significant regional instability, as the Duchy of Guelders struggled to maintain its autonomy against the encroaching influence of the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands. The coin served as a fractional denomination, facilitating local day-to-day commerce in a market that required low-value currency to bridge the gap between heavy gold and silver trade coinage.

The design reflects the distinct heraldic traditions of the Guelders region, typically featuring the lion of Guelders on the obverse. As a product of the late medieval minting process, these coins were produced under ducal authority to stabilize internal trade and assert the sovereignty of the Duchy. While they were never intended as showpieces, numismatists value them today as vital primary sources that document the economic resilience and political defiance of a small state navigating the complex power dynamics of late 15th-century Europe.