Strafgevangenis te 's-Hertogenbosch, huismunt ter waarde van 1 cent 1824 - 1831

This is a 1 cent coin, a form of inmate currency, from the Strafgevangenis, a prison in ‘s-Hertogenbosch made at an unknown date by Hendrikus Wansink. Prison money, like this coin, represents a closed, tightly controlled economy. This system dictated every aspect of incarcerated life, from labor to basic necessities, and often served to strip inmates of their autonomy and dignity. Prison money was used in canteens or to purchase small privileges. The coins isolated inmates further from the outside world, reinforcing their marginalized status. The existence of such a coin underscores a stark reality of the prison system: the commodification of human life, reducing individuals to units of economic exchange even within confinement. Think about how this small coin reflects the broader societal issues of justice, punishment, and the economic structures that perpetuate inequality.