Charleston slave badge from 1811 for Porter No. 37

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

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.

Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗