Tweede gesticht van de kolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 25 cent 1818 - 1859

This anonymous coin was struck on the order of the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid, probably in the early 19th century. It represents 25 cents of the house currency of the Veenhuizen colony. The Society of Charity ran the Veenhuizen colony, in the Netherlands. Its aim was to combat poverty by creating agricultural settlements. People were offered work and lodging. However, the project had elements of forced labour and social control, with the residents subjected to a strict regime. To maintain control, the colony had its own currency, limiting residents' economic interaction with the outside world. The coin embodies that control, with ‘K.V.’, standing for Kolonie Veenhuizen, stamped in the center. These coins represent both an effort to address poverty and a means of social control. Understanding the history of such objects relies on archival research and the study of social institutions. By examining the context, we can better understand the complex interplay between social reform, economic control, and individual freedom.