Hoop op vrede, rekenpenning geslagen op last van de Staten van Henegouwen 1576

This small medal, Hope for Peace, was commissioned by the States of Hainaut in 1576. It was a tumultuous time in the Low Countries, with the Eighty Years' War raging, and Hainaut was caught in the crossfire. As such, this medal embodies the region's yearning for peace and stability. On one side, we see the city of Zierikzee, under siege. On the other side, a female figure embodies Peace, holding an olive branch—a symbol of reconciliation. Although created by an anonymous artist, the medal serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict. It evokes a sense of longing for a more harmonious future amidst the turmoil of war, while capturing the emotional weight of living through conflict.