Kolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 1 cent 1818 - 1859

Editor: So, this intriguing little metal token is titled "Kolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 1 cent," and it was produced anonymously sometime between 1818 and 1859. Its current home is the Rijksmuseum. It’s got such a primitive, almost folksy feel to it, despite being essentially currency. What strikes you about it? Curator: Oh, it sings to me of societal ambitions, doesn’t it? Here we have a "house coin" from the Veenhuizen colony, a social experiment attempting to uplift the poor. Imagine the weight of hope, of both charity and control, embedded in this small disc. The "Maatschappij van Weldadigheid," the Society of Beneficence... quite a name, promising everything! I wonder, could owning and spending this little cent have felt empowering, or just another form of institutional grip? Editor: That’s fascinating – a symbol of both help and control. Do you think the design itself reflects that tension? Curator: Perhaps. Look at the stark, almost severe lettering, "M" and then "K.V." mirrored. Utilitarian, isn’t it? Reminds me of a brand…or a branding iron. The very act of creating this specific currency separates the community. Yet, coins have a symbolic value – literally stamped with identity, perhaps even a source of belonging? Editor: So it's less a coin and more a loaded symbol? Something that speaks to more than just monetary value? Curator: Precisely! A tiny material object holding enormous weight. It forces me to think about the best intentions that sometimes pave roads toward… unexpected places. Makes you ponder about power, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely! It’s made me see currency in a completely different light, not just about exchange, but control, community and aspiration, too. Curator: And for me, it's a stark reminder that even well-intended societal experiments are fraught with nuances we can only glimpse through such objects. It's quite poignant, isn't it?