Strafgevangenis Ommerschans, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van ½ cent before 1830

This coin, whose maker is anonymous, was produced for the Strafgevangenis Ommerschans, a penal colony, and commissioned by the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid, an organization focused on poverty relief. The coin’s circular form, roughly the size of a large coin, presents a stark simplicity. The stamped numerals "1/2" dominate its surface, denoting its value of half a cent. The material itself, likely a base metal, shows signs of wear and corrosion, adding a textural dimension that speaks to its history of circulation and use within the confines of the penal system. Structurally, the coin functions as a symbolic object, reflecting power dynamics. It reduces human worth to a monetary equivalent, essentializes and controls labor in the prison environment, and thus represents an example of Foucault's theories on power, discipline, and the construction of social norms. Ultimately, it serves as a potent reminder of the ways in which economic systems intersect with social control, subtly challenging viewers to reflect on the values assigned to human life and labor.