[Roger Dixon, artist]. Am I Not a Man & A Brother. [Birmingham, England?]: [Soho Mint, William Lutwyche?], ca 1796. 

Diam. 27 mm copper token. Obverse with a kneeling man in chains with legend "Am I Not A Man & A Brother." Reverse shows clasped hands with the perimeter legend "May Slavery & Oppression Cease Throughout the World." 

An abolitionist token that is one of the most important social tokens of the era. Issued by the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, established by Granville Sharp and Thomas Clarkson in 1787. 

The original design was commissioned by the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The design first appeared in print in the March 1788 issue of The Gentleman's Magazine, and Josiah Wedgwood produced jasperware cameos in the late 1780s. The first numismatic instance was circa 1794 with a reverse legend reading "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do you even so to them." 

Sales of the tokens helped to fund the Society and their anti-slavery mission. The slave trade was abolished in 1807, enforced by the Royal Navy, and the American Congress passed a similar bill the next year. The practice itself still continued in both British colonies and the United States. 

An important abolitionist token. 

Reference: 

Kyle Knapp. "Numismatic Impressions of the Abolitionist Movement." The Condor Token Collector's Journal. Vol. XV No. 1, Spring 2010. pp. 27-31. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation]  [Currency, Tokens, Medals,  Numismia, Numismatics, Exonumia, Bonds, Coins, Banknotes]