Strafgevangenis Ommerschans, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 1 cent before 1830

This is a one cent coin from the Ommerschans penal colony, produced under the authority of the Society of Benevolence. Though anonymous, this object speaks volumes about power, control, and the complexities of social reform. The Society of Benevolence was established in the early 19th century to address poverty through agricultural colonies. Ommerschans, however, became a forced labor institution, revealing the darker side of utopian ideals. This coin represents a closed economic system. It reflects the isolation and control exerted over the colony’s inhabitants. Stripped of regular currency, their labor was compensated with tokens. Imagine the daily reality of those who lived and worked there; for them this coin represented a day's labor. The coin is a stark reminder of the relationship between poverty, punishment, and social control. It prompts us to reflect on the human cost of social engineering and the fine line between benevolence and oppression.