Daalder van 30 stuiver van Margaretha van Brederode, abdis van Thorn, 1561 1561

This is a silver coin of 30 stuiver, minted in 1561 by the Abbey of Thorn, in what is now the Netherlands. The coin reflects not just economic exchange, but also the social and political landscape of the time, specifically, the role of religious institutions. What we see here is a claim to power. Note the coat-of-arms of Margaretha van Brederode, abbess of Thorn. In the 16th century, religious institutions like the Abbey of Thorn were not only spiritual centers but also significant landowners and political players. Minting their own currency was one way they asserted their authority. They were not merely subject to secular rulers. Historical records, like the abbey's financial accounts and the correspondence of its leaders, help us understand the social conditions that enabled such assertions of power. A close look at this coin reveals the complex interplay of religious, economic, and political forces that shaped early modern Europe.