The 'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' Abolitionist Token
The 'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' token is an 1838 copper Hard Times token that shows a kneeling enslaved woman in chains beside the plea that gives the piece its name. It is one of the most famous and historically significant pieces of American exonumia, the field of coin-like objects that are not official money. The design carried an abolitionist message into everyday circulation, where it passed at one cent during the Hard Times economic era. Common circulated examples remain affordable today, while high-grade pieces and the rarer companion 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother' can be very valuable.
Key takeaways
- The 'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' token is an 1838 Hard Times token showing a kneeling enslaved woman in chains, and it is among the most historically significant pieces of American exonumia.
- Its design was adapted from the British Wedgwood antislavery medallion 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother,' created in 1787 for the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
- The token passed at one cent during the Hard Times era while carrying an antislavery message into everyday circulation.
- The rarer companion token 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother' is a legendary rarity; a genuine example sold for about $70,500 at a Heritage auction.
- Common circulated Woman-and-Sister pieces are affordable, but strong condition and the companion Man-and-Brother command far higher prices, so buying certified matters.
What Is the 'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' Token?
It is a privately made 1838 copper token, about the size of the large cent of that era (roughly 28 to 29mm), that circulated informally as a one-cent piece while carrying an antislavery message. The obverse shows a kneeling enslaved woman in chains with her hands raised, surrounded by the legend 'AM I NOT A WOMAN AND A SISTER.' The reverse typically reads 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' around a wreath with the date 1838.
Tokens like this belong to the Hard Times series, privately struck cent substitutes that filled a shortage of federal small change. To understand where the series fits, start with our complete Hard Times tokens guide. What sets this piece apart is its message: it used pocket change as a vehicle for a moral argument, asking anyone who handled it to recognize the humanity of enslaved women.
Where the Design Came From
The image and its plea were adapted from a British source: the Wedgwood antislavery medallion. In 1787 the English potter Josiah Wedgwood produced a jasperware medallion showing a kneeling, chained enslaved man with the words 'AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER,' created for the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
That medallion became one of the most recognizable symbols of the transatlantic abolition movement, reproduced on jewelry, snuffboxes, and prints. The 'woman and sister' variation extended the appeal to enslaved women and appeared on both sides of the Atlantic. When American token makers picked up the motif in 1838, they translated a well-known abolitionist emblem into a coin-sized object that ordinary people could carry and spend. You can read more about the original design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Why It Circulated During the Hard Times Era
It circulated because the country was short of official small change, and privately made tokens quietly filled the gap. The Hard Times era followed the Panic of 1837, when hoarding drove federal cents and silver out of everyday commerce. Merchants and the public accepted cent-sized copper tokens by mutual agreement, even though they were never legal tender.
That practical need gave the abolitionist message an unusual reach. A token meant to pass as a cent could travel from hand to hand far beyond an abolitionist meeting or pamphlet. For the broader political and economic backdrop, including the Bank War and the Panic of 1837, see our overview of Andrew Jackson Hard Times tokens and the range of Hard Times token designs and slogans.
The Rarer Companion: 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother'
The companion token 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother' is far scarcer and is considered a legendary rarity in the Hard Times series. It follows the original Wedgwood wording and pairs the same kind of reverse, but very few genuine examples are known.
Its rarity shows up at auction. A genuine 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother' Hard Times token sold for about $70,500 at a Heritage auction, a result reported by Coin World. Only a handful of authentic examples are believed to exist, which places the piece in a different tier from the more available Woman-and-Sister token. Results like this also appear in roundups of the most valuable Hard Times tokens.
How These Tokens Are Cataloged
Collectors identify these pieces using the standard Hard Times reference numbers. Lyman H. Low first cataloged the series in 1899, and Russell Rulau later expanded the reference and added HT numbers that are now widely cited alongside the older Low numbers. The Woman-and-Sister token is commonly listed under HT-81 (Low 54), and the rarer Man-and-Brother companion under HT-82 (Low 54A).
The table below summarizes the two abolitionist tokens in the series. Values are hedged ranges, not fixed quotes, because copper price depends heavily on grade, surface, and color.
| Design | Legend | Rarity | Value note (hedged) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kneeling enslaved woman in chains | AM I NOT A WOMAN AND A SISTER | Scarce but obtainable | Affordable in low circulated grades; hundreds to low thousands in strong condition |
| Kneeling enslaved man in chains | AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER | Legendary rarity, very few known | Very valuable; a genuine example brought about $70,500 at Heritage |
What These Tokens Are Worth Today
The Woman-and-Sister token is collectible at a wide range of prices, while the Man-and-Brother sits at the top of the market. As a general guide, well-worn Woman-and-Sister examples are affordable to most collectors, and prices climb steeply as grade and eye appeal improve, reaching the hundreds and into the low thousands for strong, problem-free pieces with good color.
Because these are copper, condition drives value more than almost anything else. Surface quality, original color (brown, red-brown, or red), and the absence of cleaning or corrosion all matter. Precise numbers move with the market, so treat any single figure as a snapshot rather than a fixed price. To sell or appraise a piece, connect with vetted specialists through our directories of rare coin dealers and medals and tokens sellers, or watch comparable results at listed coin auction houses.
Authentication and Why to Buy Certified
Buy examples certified by a major grading service, because famous abolitionist designs attract reproductions and modern copies. Independent certification by PCGS or NGC confirms that a piece is genuine, records its grade, and protects it in a sealed holder.
Certification matters most at the top of the market, where a legendary rarity like the Man-and-Brother can be worth five figures and where fakes and replicas exist. Even for a common Woman-and-Sister token, a certified example removes doubt about authenticity and cleaning. For deeper background, see how coin grading works and how Hard Times tokens differ from Civil War tokens, a related series that revived the private-token idea two decades later.
Its Place in Numismatic and American History
This token matters on two levels at once. In numismatics, it is a cornerstone of the Hard Times series and a benchmark piece of American exonumia. In American history, it is a rare object that put an abolitionist appeal directly into the hands of ordinary people during a period of intense debate over slavery.
Museums treat it as a historical artifact as much as a collectible. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture discusses the design and its meaning in its online collection, and the wider Hard Times series is summarized on Wikipedia. For collectors, that dual significance is exactly what makes the piece enduring: it is both a coin-like object to study and a small, tangible record of a moral argument carried in everyday change.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' token rare?+
It is scarce but obtainable. Circulated examples come up for sale regularly and are affordable to most collectors, while high-grade pieces with strong color are much harder to find. The companion 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother' token is far rarer, with only a few genuine examples known.
Was the token real money?+
No. It was a privately made token, never legal tender. During the Hard Times era it passed at one cent by public acceptance because federal small change was in short supply. Owning, buying, and selling these tokens is completely legal today.
Where did the design come from?+
It was adapted from the British Wedgwood antislavery medallion 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother,' produced in 1787 for the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The kneeling, chained figure became a widely recognized symbol of the abolition movement.
How much did the 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother' token sell for?+
A genuine example sold for about $70,500 at a Heritage auction, reflecting its status as a legendary rarity with very few authentic pieces known. The more available Woman-and-Sister token trades for far less.
How can I tell if my token is authentic?+
Have it certified by a major grading service such as PCGS or NGC. Famous abolitionist designs attract reproductions and modern replicas, so independent authentication and grading are the safest way to confirm a genuine piece before buying or selling.