Towards the end of the 18th century, anti-slavery tokens began to be produced by the abolitionist movement as political and propaganda tools to raise awareness and support for their cause.

The token from the Bishop’s Stortford Museum was produced in the 1790s for the ‘Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade’ by the Soho mint in Birmingham.

The obverse (front) depicts a kneeling, African male slave, in chains, with the inscription – ‘AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER’. This iconic image became a popular propaganda message for the abolitionist movement.

The reverse (back) shows a pair of hands clasped in friendship with the inscription ‘MAY SLAVERY & OPPRESSION CEASE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD’.

The photo here is taken from completecollector.co.uk. The example in the Bishop’s Stortford collection has, itself, had a hard life. In addition to signs of wear and corrosion from its time in circulation, there is also a sizeable bend in it although the token is made from thick, hard copper.

In America, in 1838, many years before the civil war, a similar token was issued featuring an obverse image of a female slave with the inscription – ‘AM I NOT A WOMAN AND A SISTER’. The reverse has the word ‘LIBERTY 1838’ in a laurel wreath with the inscription ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’. It was commissioned by the ‘American Anti-Slavery Society’.

Researched by museum volunteer, John Collier.  You can see our much used and dented version and previous objects of the month on the first floor of the Bishop’s Stortford Museum at South Mill Arts.