Derde gesticht van de kolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van vijf cent 1818 - 1859

This coin, dating from an unknown date, was commissioned for use in the Veenhuizen colony. It’s made from a base metal, likely copper alloy, and stamped with an institutional insignia. The coin represents a grim chapter in social history. Veenhuizen was essentially a workhouse, where the poor and orphaned were forced into agricultural labor. This token was used as a kind of internal currency, a medium of exchange within the colony’s confines. It's a poignant reminder of how systems of control can be embedded even in everyday objects. The coin’s material, humble and debased, speaks to the devalued status of the workers. The very act of stamping these tokens into existence – a crude kind of minting – underscores the institutional power at play. The coin compels us to look beyond conventional notions of artistry and aesthetics. It serves as a potent symbol of labor, class, and the mechanisms of social control, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.