Abolition Trial/Pattern - Museum Gallery

May 2024

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After rumblings on a forum I decided to contact Joseph [Joe] Lang of Steve Album coins [THE specialist dealer for Islamic coins]. There is a "JL" in the obverse field...He said all seven types for countries in the West African Monetary Union were given their own designs to present to officials in those countries. They were given the opportunity to celebrate with this NCLT the English abolition of slavery in 1807, like Great Britain had. They all declined! These were then struck to recoup the losses of the endeavor. As far as I have been able to determine the matte BU's were limited to 850 examples for each country. Proofs, like this one here were limited to 50 strikes.
Please see the complete set here in the Museum in their associated countries. This is the famous "Kneeling Slave" figure that was originally designed for the China maker in Great Britain - Wedgwood. It was used by Abolition groups in the UK on tokens issued as late 18th C. as part of the Conder group of penny and half penny tokens. You can see an example in the Museum under Great Britain > Tokens [ link ] This male figure was accompanied by the words "Am I Not A Man and A Brother." This theme was about to be used by Abolition movements in the USA but only THREE are known. Issued instead (USA) were the female figure in a similar pose and similar legend "Am I Not A Woman And a Sister." [ link ]