Derde gesticht van de strafkolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 50 cent 1818 - 1859

This small, round copper coin, minted between 1818 and 1859, is an example of a "huismunt" – a coin used within the walls of the Veenhuizen penal colony. The coin, part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum, displays the inscription “M.V.W.” (Maatschappij van Weldadigheid) on one side, along with the value “50 Ct”, signifying its value in the colony's internal economy. The other side bears the number "V3", likely signifying a specific building or section within the colony. These coins represent a fascinating aspect of 19th-century penal history and the unique economic systems employed within such institutions.