Sobriety coin

Alcoholics Anonymous sobriety coins, given for specified lengths of sobriety; on the back is the Serenity Prayer. Here green is for six months of sobriety; purple is for nine months.

A sobriety coin is a token given to Alcoholics Anonymous members representing the amount of time the member has remained sober. It is traditionally a medallion the size of a poker chip marking the sobriety time achieved, awarded for abstaining from alcohol while with the program. It is intended to help abstain from alcohol.

History

Alcoholics Anonymous was not the first organization to use sobriety chips: other temperance societies gave medallions to those who swore to stop drinking and to track the duration of their sobriety.[1]

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 and St. George medals as well.” [1]

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.[2]

The Portland Group (Maine) began a tradition of using colored poker chips to mark time of sobriety.[3]

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.[1]

Meaning

Sobriety coins themselves do not help people stay sober as such. Yet recent studies have shown that there is a relationship between physical 'plays' and psychological resolve. But yes, it's the meaning behind them that is important. When a person receives a coin in payment for one month's sobriety, three months, or a longer period of time, the coins give a sense of pride and reward for staying sober as long as they have, and to motivate them to continue. If a person should feel the desire to drink again, all they have to do is look at their coin to remind them of all the progress they have made up to that point. It makes them ask themselves if they truly want to throw away all that progress they have made.[4]

As the coin itself isn't important, many other objects achieve the same result as sobriety coins. Online sites exist that give images of sobriety coins to download and use as screen savers, sobriety medallion key chains, and there are even marbles.[5] One man was even given a bullet to carry around, if he ever preferred "the easier softer way out".[6]

When one has accepted a chip after having secretly relapsed, it's known as a "dirty chip".

Coin design

Several Alcoholics Anonymous tokens

“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of both men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism”.[7] To show how far along each person is in their sobriety most A.A. groups use a chip of a particular color or alloy that constitutes a range of time that person has been sober.[7] These different colored chips and values are meant to be tokens of inspiration and a reminder of just how long the member has been sober and how far that member has come. It is evident that “early on, many people in A.A. carried personal mementos to remind themselves of the importance of their sobriety” .[8] From personal mementos to coins, the practice of giving out something such as a sobriety chip represents the will and desire that a person has to quit drinking. “The practice of giving sobriety chips in A.A. is attributed to a group in Elmira, N.Y. in 1947. The celebration of birthdays came from the Oxford group where they celebrated the anniversary of their spiritual rebirth, in Alcoholics Anonymous people choose the anniversary of the date of their last drink.[8] There are thirteen basic coins that are given to members within their first year of sobriety.

  1. White Chip- 1 day/24 hours of sobriety (also known as the desire chip that is used to help the member pursue their desire to stay sober for the first 24 hours) Another purpose is for when somebody goes back out and drinks, and returns for a "clean" white chip.[9]
  2. Silver Chip – 30 days/1 month of sobriety
  3. Dark Gold Chip – 60 days/2 months of sobriety
  4. Red Chip – 90 days/3 months of sobriety
  5. Yellow Chip – 6 months of sobriety
  6. Green Chip – 9 months of sobriety
  7. Blue Chip – 1 year of sobriety

“The chip system is optional and not a part of all A.A. groups nationally or worldwide”.[10] On January 1, 2011, the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous estimated that there were 57,905 Alcoholic Anonymous groups throughout the United States.[11] All the chips after the One Year-chip are traditionally also Bronze. There are special novelty chips that come in other metals, colors, types and designs.

Notes

References

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