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Charleston business was looted in 1841, both brothers separated them- issued, does not contain lead, and dates between 1800 and 1865. There
selves from slavery. Peter and his family made the move to New York should be no images or additional details on the tag unless made by the
City, leaving behind his property and five slaves. There, he became well metalcrafter who constructed the badge and put their mark on the back
established as a silversmith in Manhattan. His brother John became a of the badge.
Methodist minister at a time when many Methodists were opposed to The provenance of the discovery of the badge is paramount. Be
slavery. John chose to violate the strict laws of South Carolina and teach careful of those perporting to have been found “in a field” or being sold
black Methodist ministers to read and write. Despite threats, including in the open online marketplace.
tarring and feathering, he persisted in his teaching. According to longtime collector and dealer of slave tags and other
exonumia, Rich Hartzog (www.richhartzog.com), a fantasy slave tag is
one that would never have existed; it may have markings indicating it
is from outside of Charleston or Charleston Neck (which is considered
a fake since Charleston is the only recognized city that used metal tags)
or may contain wording related to slavery. On the other hand, a fake is
a piece that would be crafted to closely resemble authentic tags with
similar die-struck markings and artificial aging.
Unfortunately, not all sellers have or take the time to research
whether their items are real, so it’s truly up to buyers to do their own
research before buying; whether through an auction, flea market or
antiques shop, the rule is “buyer beware.”
Plenty of fake slave tags have been sold or auctioned off at prices that
clearly show that the buyers believed them to be authentic. One such
1814 Charleston Slave Hire Badge. FISHER. No.121. well-known piece was represented as a rare early American slave tag - it
was oval with markings on both sides, engraved with the name of a
Regulation and Dissention plantation and its crops, the slave’s first name and occupation,
As slaves moved about the city they had certain regulations they had “Mississippi,” and an engraving of shackles and chains on one side.
to follow. They could not be far from their home or the place of This fantasy piece sold for $1,100, when in fact it had been made some-
employment, they could only handle goods and tools related directly to time in the 1990s.
their specialty, they could only perform the work they were hired for, From a TheAwl.com article “The Last of America’s Slave Tags” in 2013:
and they had to wear the tag at all times. “J. Grahame Long of the Charleston Museum in South Carolina has
While this was another way for slaveowners to gain income, the idea the largest collection of copper tags in the country. They have 54. [visit
did not always sit well with craftsmen trying to earn a living utilizing www.charlestonmuseum.org to see much of their collection]
many of the same skillsets as the for-hire slaves. At times, confronta- “They could have far
tions became heated. Each enslaved person had a different experience, more, Long said, know-
and it was primarily men who faced the resistance of white workers. ing that what he was
“There was a great deal of resentment,” observes Harlan Greene, a about to divulge would
Charleston scholar and coauthor, along with Harry Hutchins, of the be impossible to ignore.
book Slavery’s Badge: A History of the Slave Hiring System of Charleston, Every year, more than a
SC, 1783-1865. “White artisans complained vehemently.” hundred tags come
across his desk, and 99 of
them turn out to fake.
Discovery “In the early 20th
Examples of slave badges have century, novelty tags —
typically been handed down or found fakes — were sold as
when a construction or restoration souvenirs in Charleston.
project is in the works. Several badges It might have begun at
have been, and continue to be, found. the well-attended but
In June 2021, students and faculty financially disastrous
conducting excavations at the College of South Carolina Interstate
Charleston in South Carolina discovered and West Indian
a “slave badge” dated to 1853. This is an antique Replica of Exposition. The regional
According to an article in Smithsonian an 1841 Charleston, SC, Slave tag. trade show opened in
1853 Slave Badge discovered on Magazine, “Enslaved workers, including c 1900 + early reproduction that have become 1901, and attracted more
collectible in their own right. photo: Etsy.com
the grounds of the College of skilled craftspeople, built much of the tourists than Charleston
Charleston in June 2021 physical structure of the college, which had seen since the Civil War, with more than 670,000 visitors, including
opened in 1770. If These Walls Could President Theodore Roosevelt. They were eager to pick up mementos
Talk, a recent documentary produced by the school, examines that legacy. from the city where, just after South Carolina became the first state to
‘I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we found the slave badge.’ says secede, troops in the city fired on the transport ship Star of the West,
Charissa Owens, producer of the documentary and director of diversity announcing the war with a 34-hour bombardment.
education and training at the college, in a statement. ‘As the 13th oldest “In recent years, values have increased in part because of a
college in the [United States] and a former epicenter of slavery, our growing interest in African-American memorabilia. A huckster’s
institution is striving to be a leader in this reckoning. Our ancestors are (fruit vendor’s) badge, dated 1803, fetched $26,450 at auction in
saying, ‘Hello, we’re here.’” Baltimore, Maryland.”
5
Collecting and Counterfeits “It’s a shame no records survive to help us discover who actually wore
Because slave badges are rare, they carry high monetary value. As a the badge,” says Harlan Greene, head of Special Collections at the
result, counterfeit examples have popped up. College’s Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library and co-author of Slave
Most genuine slave tags have the city “Charleston,” the occupation, Badges and the Slave-Hire System in Charleston, South Carolina: 1783–
such as “Servant,” and the year, such as “1860” all struck on a tag from 1865. “Even so, it’s a tangible piece of history connecting us to a person
bar-punches, with raised letters. A serial number is incused punched. who lived in the place we live today, but in an era incredibly different
Some early genuine tags also have a silversmith bar-punch mark. from our own. If it could talk, it would have an incredible tale to tell.
Look for a tag that is fully engraved, is of the right shape for the year Even in its silence, it reflects an incredible story.”

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