http://cgi.ebay.com/1855-The-Anti-Tobacco-Medal-Pre-Civil-War-Very-Rare_W0QQitemZ180376407997QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item29ff458fbd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|293%3A1|294%3A50 I have done alot of research on this Medal to bring to you the most information I can on it. The condition of this Medal is Outstanding for a Pre-Civil War Medal and I believe these medals came with the whole pierced in them to be worn around the neck, as you can see the medal on the exonumia.com website has the whole in the same place as this one that I am selling that I purchased here in a Massachusetts antique shop. Also since they were originaly from Massachusetts, I believe that is why I found this one in such Great Condition. Thank You for looking at my auctions and Happy Bidding. I will also include free shipping insurance if this Medal sells for over $50. Sincerely, Donn George Trask, a Massachusetts minister who founded the American Anti-Tobacco Society in 1850, visited schools around the country and urged young people to take the Band of Hope pledge: "I hereby solemnly promise to abstain from the use of all Intoxicating Liquors as a beverage; I also promise to abstain from the use of Tobacco in all forms, and all Profane Language." In the 1890s Lucy Page Gaston adopted a similar strategy, leading boys and girls in the Clean Life Pledge: "I hereby pledge myself with the help of God to abstain from all intoxicating liquors as a beverage and from the use of tobacco in any form." I have also found a Newspaper Add for this Medal ( http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/eaa.B0118/ ) (2770. Anti-Tobacco Medal, ca. 1850. Unusual medal similar to temperance medals, but for tobacco. "I Will Never Use Tobacco in Any Form" around man trampling tobacco leaves / "Tobacco Tends to Idleness, Poverty, Strong Drink, Vice, Ill Health, Insanity & Death" Rare. Nice medal. 24 mm, gilt brass, holed for suspension. Bright Unc., rare this nice! $75.00-100.00+ http://www.exonumia.com/sale11/allb.htm )
