Hoop op vrede in de Spaanse Nederlanden, rekenpenning van de raad van Financiën 1606

This is an anonymous metal coin from 1606, a Dutch ‘rekenpenning’ or counting token, expressing hope for peace in the Spanish Netherlands. The coin reflects the complex entanglement of politics, finance, and identity in the early modern period. The Spanish Netherlands, modern-day Belgium, was a region torn by religious and political conflict, with the Dutch Republic fighting for independence from Spanish rule. In 1606, when this coin was made, the desire for peace was palpable, especially among merchants and financiers whose livelihoods were disrupted by war. The council of finance would have used tokens like these for accounting purposes, but they also served as propaganda, subtly promoting the idea of peace and prosperity under a particular regime. The imagery on the coin depicts Victoria, or victory, and Spes, or hope, classical allegories of peace and justice, underscoring the longing for stability. What narratives do we tell ourselves through our money? What are the emotional and personal dimensions of economic stability?