National Museum of African American History and Culture
Charleston slave badge from 1811 for Porter No. 37
John Joseph Lafar, American, 1784 - 1849 · 1811
A convex, four-sided badge with deeply scooped, rounded corners and a hole at the top for suspension. The elements on the front are as follows (top to bottom): *CHARLESTON*" in a lunate bar punch; "1811" bar punched; "PORTER" in a rectangular punch (at a slight angle); and "No" in a square punch followed by an engraved "37". Very fine condition with brown / olive patina and some copper red highlights on the obverse, likely from cleaning after excavation.
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