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

Curator: Here we have a rather curious artifact from between 1818 and 1859, held in the Rijksmuseum: a house coin from the Veenhuizen colony, commissioned by the Society of Benevolence and valued at thirty cents. Editor: It has a brutalist aesthetic. Even in its small format, it evokes the weight of a monument—an unflinching portrait. The circular form containing somewhat crudely stamped images and text, all rendered in weathered metal, creates an austere presence. Curator: Indeed. Veenhuizen was essentially a settlement aimed at "re-educating" the poor and orphaned, employing them in agriculture and industry. These tokens were used internally, ensuring economic activity remained within the colony’s control. One side bears the emblem of the Society, while the other features the colony's mark and the denomination. What does this say about societal views towards poverty at the time, towards the agency of people, or towards freedom? Editor: From a formalist standpoint, I’m drawn to the contrast between the coin’s perfect geometry, versus its material degradation. Scratches, pits, fading detail…all visually tell a story. In this context, the coin's metallic composition lends itself to an interesting study of decay and erosion as metaphorical markers of a failing system. This creates a tension between the ordered control intended through its geometric shape, and the real world implications of exploitation. Curator: Absolutely. The coin materializes a whole web of social power structures—it stands as a reminder of policies that strip individuals of their economic self-determination, and their very sense of worth. This historical item sparks questions: who was truly benefiting from this controlled environment? Where does charity become exploitation? And where do economics meet morality? Editor: This tiny metal disc yields more than just monetary worth; it evokes thoughts on socio-political systems, industrial practices, and power constructs. Through such study and contemplation, one gains heightened awareness of intricate layers woven through human creation. Curator: Examining this simple object offers an unexpectedly poignant journey through our understanding of power, social control, and the value we place on human dignity.