Herstel van de vrede in Duitsland op het Interim van Augsburg, rekenpenning ten behoeve van Aelbrecht van Loo, auditeur van de rekenkamer van Holland te 's-Gravenhage 1548

This is an anonymous reckoning token, made to honor Aelbrecht van Loo, auditor of the Chamber of Accounts of Holland in The Hague. The token speaks to a very specific moment in European history, referencing the restoration of peace in Germany via the Interim of Augsburg. But what kind of peace was this? This so-called peace occurred in the midst of religious and political conflicts in the 16th century between Protestants and Catholics. The Interim was Emperor Charles V's attempt to enforce religious unity in the Holy Roman Empire, yet it largely favored Catholic doctrine and practices, which was a significant moment of power and control. Consider the role of objects like this token during such times of upheaval. It becomes clear that the coin is not just about accounting, it's about power, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we stand for.