‘Taking the Knee’ – a very recognisable stance in the early 21st Century, representing Black solidarity for racial equality. However, it is less known that this same image was taken up by the early anti-slavery movements over two hundred years ago, as a symbol to promote the abolition of slavery.
The leading protagonist of the antislavery movement in Parliament in the late 1790s was William Wilberforce, who as a Member of Parliament and friend of William Pitt pushed for the abolition of slavery across the British Empire. In 1787, he joined in setting up in London a committee for the 'Abolition of the Slave Trade in the West Indies' which exposed to the House of Commons the horrors and evil of this activity.
In the same period, in 1783, British Quakers created 'An Association for the Relief and Liberation of Negro Slaves in the West Indies' – although it did not have much effect for a while. In 1807 a bill prohibiting British merchants from selling slaves to foreign colonies and prohibiting the importation of slaves into British possessions was passed, and 1811 another bill was adopted to make slave trading a criminal offence. The Royal Navy took action against slavers and eventually there was some progress, although not overnight.
One of these early anti-slavery groups – though it is not known exactly who – saw an effective propaganda tool in coinage and issued a copper token halfpenny to be circulated. At a time when there was a great need for small change, they could use this to spread far and wide their message of the equality of man. This halfpenny token has particular interest and poignancy, featuring a shackled African slave, and the words ‘Am I not a man and a brother’.
This London Political Series, William Lutwyche for an Anti-Slavery Society Halfpenny undated (late 1790s) – Lot 464 – will feature in the upcoming Baldwin’s Auction House sale of British 18th Century Tokens, taking place on Monday 7 October 2024. Picturing a shackled African slave kneeling, right facing, on the reverse two hands clasped, and on its edge PAYABLE IN DUBLIN OR LONDON. This piece is extremely fine and handsomely toned with trace of lustre and is estimated to sell for £100-150.
The British 18th Century Token sale, comprised of two parts, will bring to sale over 600 items from three excellent collections, including the collection of Paul Gerrie. The Gerrie lots (1 – 318) are in exceptional condition and are not just uncirculated but also exhibit much original lustre or beautiful toning with brilliance or iridescence. Some were once encapsulated and graded by PCGS and NGC – and in most cases achieved scores of 64 and above. In the second section are yet more tokens in superb condition, including some extreme rarities. Many are ex Cokayne, Drury and Longman, and many more will have come from Baldwins in the last century.