Betaalpenning voor Nederlandse strafgevangenissen, 1 cent ongemerkt before 1861

This is a one cent coin for use in Dutch prisons, made by 's Rijks Munt. What appears at first to be a simple monetary object actually opens a window into the social and institutional history of punishment and reform in the Netherlands. This coin, though seemingly small, was part of a broader system of prison economics. Inmates could earn these coins through labor, allowing them to purchase small comforts within the confines of the prison walls. The visual codes are simple: one side denotes its value, the other its institutional purpose; ‘Strafgevangenis’ or penal prison. This raises questions about the nature of incarceration. Was it purely punitive, or was there an element of rehabilitation through work and the possibility of small rewards? To truly understand this coin, we would need to delve into archival records of the Dutch penal system, exploring the regulations, labor practices, and social philosophies that shaped the lives of prisoners. Art, even in the form of a humble coin, is always contingent on its social and institutional context.