“Am I Not a Woman and a Sister” – Anti-Slavery Medallion, 1838
A common token in anti-slavery circles, abolitionist women distributed and sold these medals at anti-slavery fairs, using the proceeds to fund their cause. This particular medal, minted in New Jersey in 1838, reads “Am I Not a Woman and a Sister” and depicts an enslaved woman kneeling in chains. The slogan, made popular by Philadelphia abolitionist Elizabeth Margaret Chandler, would come to define the abolitionist movement, particularly in female anti-slavery societies. In this version, the “N” in United States is reversed, a tactic engravers used to avoid counterfeiting.
Anti-slavery Token.
New Jersey,
1838.
Brass ; 1 3/16 inches (diameter).