2 copies of a political leaflet in the form of a “counterfeit” dollar bill. 2¾x6¼ inches, printed on both sides. With photograph of Gregory in the center, a peace symbol, and date of the election, November 5, 1968.

Captioned on verso: “The Independents of America / In God We Hope / Take this One Opportunity to express your free choice, this country is redeemable, take this to the poll with you and write in, Dick Gregory President / Mark Lane Vice President”. Produced by the African-American comedian and activist while running as a Peace and Freedom splinter group write-in candidate for President of the United States. Some of these bills were confiscated by Federal agents, who claimed they too closely resembled authentic US currency, Gregory later joked that the bills could not be considered counterfeit because everyone knew a Black man’s face would never appear on American money. Gregory and Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver, 1968 presidential nominee of the official Peace and Freedom Party, seem to have been the first African-American males to run for the Presidency – forty years before the election of Barack Obama.