 1814 Charleston Slave Hire Badge. FISHER. No.121. LAFAR in a prepared, rectangular punch on the back. Appearance of sharp Choice Extremely Fine in places. Octagonal but very nearly square shaped, with four very long and four extremely short sides. Holed for suspension. 207.6 gns. 48.1 mm. x 50.2 mm. *CHARLESTON* in a prepared lunate punch at the top. No. in a prepared, square punch, 121 in individual number punches below. FISHER underneath in a prepared, rectangular punch with the characteristic die break. 1814 in a rectangular logotype punch below. Dark brown with traces of verdigris. Very minor roughness. Lightly dished, the front bowed towards the viewer, believed to add additional strength to the badge when worn. Extremely rare. This is one of the rarest of all occupations.
The reverse bears the enigmatic inscription TEAM 4 engraved neatly below the hallmark. The significance of this is unknown and the cataloguer cannot recall another such instance of a reverse engraved like this. Mr. West wondered if slaves working this occupation might not have operated in teams. This may be the fourth oldest Fisher badge date known.
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