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

Curator: Looking at this coin, I find myself wondering about the stories it could tell, echoing through time like a tangible whisper of forgotten interactions. Editor: Absolutely, the stark simplicity is quite striking. It’s unassuming at first glance, but those worn edges speak of a well-circulated history. There is something deeply intimate about objects meant to be held, passed around, changing hands... what can you tell us about it? Curator: Well, what we’re seeing here is a piece of coinage. According to our records, it was created somewhere between 1818 and 1859. The coin was produced for the Veenhuizen colony. Its full name is: "Derde gesticht van de kolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van dertig cent." That is a mouthful! Editor: So it wasn't part of a larger national currency, it was a specific coinage minted for internal circulation... interesting! This evokes a feeling of a closed-off, perhaps even a controlled economy. What kind of society used this? Curator: The coin embodies the social experiment carried out by the Society of Benevolence. It symbolizes a way for people to rebuild their lives, literally trading it for work and services within this isolated community. Editor: The initials stamped so clearly onto its surface are compelling. "KV", bold, geometric, centered; what does that say about its time? Curator: They speak to an era striving for control and order. There’s a definite attempt to standardize and categorize within a rapidly changing societal structure. The image seems straightforward, utilitarian but perhaps deceivingly so, pointing to the era's paternalistic approach to social welfare. It also alludes to a larger context: the political and economic landscape shaped by industrialization and the aftermath of Napoleonic wars. Editor: This resonates powerfully. Seeing these simple materials –metal made useful, imprinted with a clear, functional message. I feel like I better understand the world that forged this artifact. Thank you. Curator: And thank you, I find these little objects truly speak to the heart of history, and the continuity of value across centuries.