Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

United States of America, Charleston, 1843, a lozenge-shaped copper Slave Badge or Tag, charleston servant, stamped 1533, 52mm. On a thin flan, pierced, fine £150-200

Provenance: E. Roehrs Collection.

Slave badges were used in Charleston between 1800 and 1865. They acted as an ‘annual licence’ permitting slaves to hire out their time for money, which was then shared with the slaves' owners. The badges all carried a job category – Servant, Porter, Mechanic, etc, stamped in the metal