Strafgevangenis te 's-Hertogenbosch, huismunt ter waarde van ½ cent 1824 - 1831

This is a coin, or 'huismunt', made by Hendrikus Wansink for the prison in 's-Hertogenbosch, its value being half a cent. Look closely at the flower-like mark struck on its face, a stylized bloom that hints at nature, even here, within the cold confines of incarceration. This simple floral motif is a powerful one, reaching back through centuries and across cultures. We see its echoes in ancient Greek wreaths of victory and rebirth, and in the garlands adorning Roman altars. Even in the stark environment of a prison, this symbol offers a flicker of hope. The flower is a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, death, and renewal. Its presence in such a place elicits the profound psychological tension between confinement and freedom, despair and the longing for renewal. This coin, this small symbol, is a potent reminder of the human spirit's resilience.