Kolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 1 cent 1818 - 1859

This small, anonymous coin, made for the Dutch Society of Public Welfare, represents a unique piece of social history. Minted for use in the Veenhuizen penal colony, the coin demonstrates the Society's attempt to create a self-sufficient system of labor and exchange. The coin features the inscription “K.M.V” on one side, a reference to the Society, and “V.H” on the other, symbolizing the penal colony. This tiny piece of metal encapsulates the complex social and economic systems of 19th-century Dutch society.