1764 VOC Duit coin, often referred to as the "First New York Penny"

Origin and Issuance: This copper Duit coin was minted in the Netherlands by the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or VOC), a powerful chartered company that operated from 1602 to 1799 and played a significant role in global trade and colonization.
Significance: The coin bears the distinctive "VOC" monogram, symbolizing the company, and its date of production (1764). On the reverse, it typically features the crowned coat of arms of one of the Dutch provinces.
Colonial Use: These Duit coins were widely circulated in the Dutch colonies, including the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and parts of the Americas like New Amsterdam, where they became a common form of currency and earned the nickname "New York Penny".
Historical Context: The VOC's coins facilitated trade in regions where national mints were absent, and their use in New York continued even after Dutch rule ended, highlighting their widespread acceptance and importance in colonial commerce.