These silver, aluminum coins contain the basic elements of recovery. Many AA groups award a 24-hour medallion to new members. AA members know what it's like to be in that same place. That's where the beauty of the program takes over. When a new member first enters an AA room, they are often tired, scared, and sitting on rock bottom. They make great gifts for sober friends and family members. But you can also get specialized coins made from a number of different materials. But the year marks are Roman numerals instead of numbers like the months. The 1-year coin is made from bronze and has the same design elements as the aluminum coins. It reminds members to trust that their higher power guides them through life. This is a prayer that AAs have said since 1941 and is repeated at every meeting. On the back of every coin is a copy of the Serenity Prayer. This slogan is one of many used by AA members to remind them to be true to themselves during the process of getting sober. Then outside the triangle are the words "To Thine Own Self Be True". Inside the triangle is a small circle with a number signifying the number of months sober. They have a triangle on one side of the chip that says Unity, Service, and Recovery on the three sides. These colorful chips are made of aluminum. Silver - 24-hour chip, the first chip awarded after one day of sobriety.Here's a list of the colors used during the first year of sobriety. Most groups use colored chips to signify milestones during the first year of sobriety. They're also made from a variety of materials. The Significance of the Coin DesignĪA chips come in a variety of colors to signify different points in sobriety. Many groups offer chip nights or medallion nights to honor those receiving a token. The ways that groups present tokens differ. In a way, this form of celebration is how each group expresses its individuality. And their use differs from group to group. Now, many AA groups and other 12-step programs use this as a way of celebrating successful sobriety milestones.Ĭhips are not part of the AA program as laid out by the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (also known as the "big book"). This is widely accepted as the first instance where AA members used coins or tokens to mark sobriety. The story says that Sister Ignatia asked her patients to give the coin back if they ever took another drink. After someone left her care, she gave them a Sacred Heart badge to mark their success in staying sober. It was here that she started working with alcoholics alongside Dr. Bob, one of the original co-founders of AA. Thomas Hospital of Akron, OH in the mid-1950's. It's said that the first tokens came from a non-alcoholic friend of AA, Sister Mary Ignatia. Many people in recovery carry their coin in their pocket or purse so they can reach it easily. The tokens give AA members a physical reminder to take sobriety one day at a time. The coins look like poker chips and mark how long a member's been sober. What Are AA Coins?ĪA coins are tokens given to those in alcohol or drug recovery. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what AA coins are and how they help with recovery. These little tokens hold big significance in the fight for sobriety. One of the ways that AA members empower each other to succeed is through the gift of AA coins. Lessons learned and successes celebrated allowed this recovery organization to evolve. Today's AA groups don't look the same as the groups Bill W. This fellowship of alcoholics helping other alcoholics gives us the 12-step model of recovery as we know it today. AA Coins: What They Are and How They Help in the Recovery Journey AA Coins: What Are They And How Do They Help In The Journey Toward Recovery What are AA coins? How are they special in the journey toward sobriety, and what do they stand for? Click here to learn all about them.Īlcoholics Anonymous (AA) has a solid 80 years of history.
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