Rijksgestichten Ommerschans en Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 25 cent 1848

This small coin, whose maker is now anonymous, was commissioned by the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid. It is made of a base metal, likely copper, which was stamped with the initials ‘V&J’ on one side, and ‘R. Gest. 25. CT’ on the other. These coins were used within the Rijksgestichten Ommerschans en Veenhuizen, institutions established to address poverty in the Netherlands, essentially workhouses, where the poor could find employment. The coin’s materiality tells a story of social control. By using tokens instead of official currency, the Maatschappij maintained control over the residents' economic activity, restricting it to the confines of the institution. The coin thus represents a parallel economy, operating within a closed system. Considering this coin, we can see how even the most humble objects can be understood as embodiments of social policy. The base metal and stamped design speak to the economics of social control, and the perceived value of labor within these institutions.