Verlangen naar vrede, rekenpenning ter ere van Filips IV, koning van Spanje 1639

This silver coin, made in 1639 by an anonymous artist, expresses a 'yearning for peace' and celebrates Philip IV, King of Spain. The context here is the Eighty Years' War, a conflict between the Dutch Republic and Spain. Coins such as this one functioned as propaganda, shaping public perception. One side bears the portrait of Philip IV, while the other shows a hand holding a sword piercing a laurel wreath, symbolizing a desire to end the war. The inscription reads "Finis Belli 1639", meaning "The End of the War 1639". The Dutch Republic, driven by merchants and rebelling against the Catholic Spanish Monarchy, was keen to establish its own cultural identity through its art. Understanding this coin requires us to look at the history of conflict, the economy of the Dutch Golden Age, and the symbolism used to promote peace and shape public opinion. It highlights how art is contingent on social and institutional contexts.