Vrede van Munster 1648

This is Johann Blum’s coin, the ‘Vrede van Munster’ which commemorates the Peace of Munster, likely made around 1648. Note how the iconography on both sides invokes the concepts of peace and prosperity through a combination of classical and Christian symbols. On one side, a crowned female figure, perhaps an allegory of peace, stands over discarded weapons, holding an olive branch and a horn. These symbols suggest a return to harmony and abundance. On the reverse, we find two hands holding a flaming heart beneath divine rays of light, flanked by two faces and doves. The flaming heart is a symbol of divine love and spiritual enlightenment. The doves, traditionally symbols of peace, suggest reconciliation and harmony. Such a motif can be traced back to ancient Roman depictions of clasped hands, symbolizing agreement and unity, but the introduction of Christian religious symbols creates new meaning that emphasizes divine sanction and the hope for lasting concord. This potent combination of gestures and symbols serves as an emotional reminder of the collective longing for peace.