Sobriety Coin

Origin
A sobriety coin is a token generally given to Alcoholics Anonymous members that represents the amount of time that person has remained sober, with the intention for it to help them abstain from alcohol.

History
Alcoholics Anonymous was not the first organization to utilize the use of a sobriety chip. Other temperance societies used medallions to give to those who swore to stop drinking and to track the duration of one’s sobriety.

First Use
Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers, the history book for Alcoholics Anonymous, discusses the work of Sister Ignatia in Akron, a nun who was devoted to assist early members of A.A. and was known for passing out coins to these members. In this book, it states, “Sister Ignatia gave each of her newly released patients a Sacred Heart Medallion, which she asked them to return before they took the first drink. She would occasionally give out St. Christopher medals as well.”

Use in AA
The actual history of how the A.A. chip came about after this is still a mystery. It is believed to have originated in 1942 in Indianapolis. The man who began the Alcoholics Anonymous section in Indianapolis, Doherty S., is thought to have started the sobriety coin tradition within this section of A.A.

As each section of A.A. saw fit, it joined in on the sobriety coin custom. As private companies saw these coins being used, they began to manufacture “A.A.” chips (even though they were not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous) and sell them to different sections. It is believed that the company that made the modern chip as we know it today occurred in Minneapolis in 1965.

Today
The artifact was found after Mr. Kipling was rummaging through a garage sale. He was told that the uncle of the seller held onto that chip ever since he had received it. When Mr. Kipling held it, he was affected by the chip, but not as bad as anyone else would be if they were to hold it. After talking to Artie, they both believed the Uncle held onto it as a form of penance, as he was involved in an accident that killed his nephew.