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1834 Charleston (SC) SERVANT Slave Hire Tag

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:4,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 7,500.00 USD
1834 Charleston (SC) SERVANT Slave Hire Tag
Black History

Authentic 1834 Charleston “SERVANT” Slave Hire Tag

1834-Dated. Charleston (SC) “SERVANT” Slave Hire Identification Tag. Copper. Original & GENUINE. Choice Very Fine

This is an authentic, original Slave “Tag” or “Badge” that is Diamond shaped, measuring a full large 66mm wide x 70mm tall, Copper, with the standard small round hole punch at top for suspension, as made. This tag has a full and clear “1834” date, plus a full clear and complete punch for the “SERVANT” occupation at center, it being struck by the die punch so hard that it has a fine thin split below the letters along the punch edge, as made. It has a deeply punched “1164” being the tag serial number. The city name is quite easy to read and full. It has a perfectly natural rich even brown patina, the face side reading: “CHARLESTON - 1834 - SERVANT - No. 1164”. Some typical very faint overall roughness adds to its authenticity. This example is actually far above average in its quality and is extremely impressive in its appearance. This tag is of the Type shown in the 2004 reference book, “Slave Badges and the Slave Hire System In Charleston, SC 1783-1865,” by Greene & Hutchins.

Slave-hire Tags or Badges were created and sold only in Charleston, South Carolina. These badges were renewable at the end of every year as long as the fee was paid. According to Greene, Hutchins, Jr., and Hutchins in their book "Slave Badges and the Slave-Hire System in Charleston, South Carolina, 1783-1865," the badges for 1834 were made by Lafar. The badges were diamond-shaped, made of copper, and only 3,530 of all worker types, were issued for the year 1834.