Huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 1 cent, ten behoeve van de Gewone Koloniën 1818 - 1859

This is a one cent coin made for the Society of Welfare’s colonies. It is undated, but was likely made in the early 19th century. The Society of Welfare was a Dutch organization founded in 1818 with the goal of reducing poverty through a network of agricultural colonies. The organization acquired large plots of land where the urban poor could find work and housing. These colonies, however, were based on a strict disciplinary system, and colonists were paid using these special coins. The coins could only be used within the colony, ensuring that workers remained economically dependent on the Society. In this context, these coins are a stark reminder of the social inequalities of the time. By studying the history of this organization, its economic structure and the regulations imposed on its inhabitants, we can learn more about the complex social dynamics that shaped the lives of the poor in the 19th century.