VOC Trade Token

The VOC trade tokens were ingeniously struck on copper planchets sourced from recycled ship ballast and other scrap, ensuring they could withstand the rigors of sea voyages to the East Indies.

These tokens, issued by the Dutch East India Company between 1602 and 1620, served as a practical medium for trade in far-flung outposts. They featured simple designs, like the VOC monogram and ship motifs, to assert Dutch authority without the pomp of traditional coinage. While records are sparse—many likely perished in colonial archives—surviving examples show variations in weight and quality, reflecting the haste of production amid global expansion.

We don't know the exact mintage, as the VOC kept sloppy books. That said, these tokens helped bridge currency gaps in Asia, from Batavia to Japan.

One theory holds they were sometimes counterfeited by local smiths, turning commerce into a game of cat and mouse.