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

This is a coin from the Ommerschans penal colony, struck by the Society of Charity, likely in the early 19th century. The dominant symbol is a simple number "5", denoting its value of five cents, surrounded by a circle of raised dots. This arrangement—a central numerical value encircled by repeated elements—echoes ancient coinage designs seen across various cultures. Consider the denarius of ancient Rome, often bearing an emperor's profile surrounded by a wreath of laurel. The act of encasing value within a patterned border serves as a visual assertion of worth and authority. Here, the penal colony’s homemade rendering suggests a crude attempt to legitimize itself. These dots, seemingly simple, have traveled far through history, resurfacing in unexpected places. This coin is not merely currency; it is a symbol of power, control, and the persistent human need to impose order upon chaos.