Huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van twintig cent, ten behoeve van de Gewone Koloniën 1818 - 1859

This is a twenty-cent coin made on behalf of the Society of Welfare, or Maatschappij van Weldadigheid, for use in the so-called ‘Ordinary Colonies’. In the early 19th century, the Netherlands struggled with widespread poverty, especially in urban areas. General Johannes van den Bosch established these colonies as a social experiment with the goal to combat poverty by offering the urban poor work in agriculture, and instilling in them discipline and a strong work ethic. These tokens embody a paternalistic system where the poor were expected to reform through hard labor. The coins were only valid within the colonies, ensuring that the residents remained economically dependent. The anonymity of the artist is revealing. It underscores the impersonal, systemic nature of social reform at the time. The coin serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between charity, control, and the commodification of labor.