VOC monogram under a garland, tower privy mark, divided date without dot below (17-93) / Crowned arms of Zeeland. 22mm, 2.16 grams. Krause 159.

Issued in the Netherlands for circulation in the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia).

The VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), or Dutch East India Company, was a powerful trading corporation established in 1602 by the Dutch Republic to conduct trade, exploration, and colonial activity throughout Asia. It was the world’s first joint-stock company and held a government-granted monopoly on Dutch trade in the East Indies, primarily focusing on spices, textiles, and precious goods. With its own navy, army, and administrative apparatus, the VOC functioned as a quasi-state, establishing fortified trading posts and colonies in places like Java, the Moluccas, and Ceylon.

At its peak, the VOC was one of the richest and most influential commercial enterprises in the world, driving the expansion of Dutch colonial power in Asia. However, internal corruption, rising costs, and increasing competition eventually weakened the company. It was formally dissolved in 1799, with its assets and territories taken over by the Dutch government, laying the foundation for the Dutch East Indies. The VOC remains a landmark in global economic history as a pioneer of modern corporate finance and colonial capitalism.