Virginia Coins
BTW

Owner Comments:

In 1901, Washington released his autobiography "Up From Slavery". In it, he recounts how he became free.

"The most distinct thing that I now recall in connection with the scene was that some man who seemed to be a stranger (a United States officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper---the Emancipation Proclamation, I think. After the reading we were told that we were all free, and could go when and where we pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this was the day for which she had been so long praying, but fearing that she would never live to see. (See https://archive.org/details/upfromslaveryan08washgoog/page/n52/mode/2up Pages 20-21)