🥇 BANNER 1837 SLAVE TAG & Rev War PEWTER!

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,709
5,614
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hey guys,

Been overseas for 2 weeks and have been itching to get back to the lowcountry and knock the dust of the CTX. While I would have been perfectly happy to walk away with a flat button, I could never have predicted a night like this. This particular site has proven to be a great spot to meet other diggers on TNet. Over the course of the last month, we have had multiple group hunts with amazing success. Affectionately known as the watermelon patch, the dirt is packed with 300 years of history and continues to produce. The evening started out as most do, surface pottery, glass, and brick shards- the normal indicators for a killer site. Given the volume of targets and age of the site, everything dug ends up in my pouch for later identification. After arriving home I had no idea what I had dug. As I was working through my round stuff pocket, I noticed the familiar look of pewter. While only a partial, I carefully tooth picked away the corrosion hoping for a design of some sort...6...7!

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First Revolutionary War button of 2016, and finally an end to a 1 year regimental drought. Curiously, the 67th Regiment of Foot did not serve in North America during the war although 1 other example is noted in Troiani's book as being recovered in SC. Perhaps the soldier was attached to another unit during the occupation.

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At this point I am already running around the kitchen, until I notice a familiar shape in the misc pocket-rectangular and made of brass. May have dug my first plate? After a bit of careful cleaning, my heart started pounding. Could this actually be what I think it is...holy **** its a Charleston Slave TAG! 1837 Servant #573. For me there are no words to express how it feels holding such a piece of history. The stories this discarded object could tell- stories which would have been lost after the site is covered in concrete.

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Among the other digs was a curious pewter spoon with an unknown benchmark, flat buttons, round balls, and a tiny pewter heart. Any ID help with the spoon is great appreciated.

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Certainly a night I will never forget- Rev War Regimental and a Charleston Slave tag at one site. This is why we spend the hours we do digging and swinging. As always, thanks for looking and get out there and save the next piece of history.

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Update- After 48 hours in oil and a light brushing I am happy with the balance of patina and corrosion...after all its been in the ground for 179 years :laughing7:. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and for giving this history the attention it deserves.

After a bit of research I have been able to confirm the tag was manufactured by Charleston silversmith William M. Rouse. He apprenticed until 1834 as a silversmith under John Ewan and subsequently went into business for himself. In 1836 he was awarded the city contract for manufacturing tags. Rouse's tags are unique in that he used a series of small dots around the stamped occupations on his badges from the 1830s. He continued making badges until 1840, size though growing increasingly smaller due to the increased cost of materials or diminishing profit margins. In 1837 he manufactured 3722 tags for a total contract of $8,141. Unfortunately the trail goes cold regarding the poor soul who wore the tag. All records were lost after the Civil War-

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Upvote 112
Wow, you absolutely nailed that site. Banner all the way! Awesome finds. Nice Job:thumbsup:

Thanks digger, I am just starting to scratch the surface on the history and rarity of these tags.

About 100 or so, dating from 1800 to 1864, are in various museums around the country, and another few hundred are believed to be in the hands of private collectors. Their power far transcends monetary value. "Imagine," Michael Hodder says, "this badge as it hung around the neck of a man. Imagine how it felt against his chest, how it felt to present it whenever someone demanded. At the end of the day, did the slave hang up the badge in his hut or did the master keep it? What happened if a slave lost his badge? What happened at the end of the year? Was the badge returned to the city marshal’s office, turned in, taken to a local mill, melted and then reused?" The only certainty is the profound inhumanity—and likely brutality—evoked by such an artifact.

Sums up well what it feels like to handle one
 

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Tremendous find! Great shape too! Banner and a Hearty Congrats.........Hogge
 

Update post:

After a bit of research I have been able to confirm the tag was manufactured by Charleston silversmith William M. Rouse. He apprenticed until 1834 as a silversmith under John Ewan and subsequently went into business for himself. In 1836 he was awarded the city contract for manufacturing tags. Rouse's tag are unique in that he used a series of small dots around the stamped occupations on his badges from the 1830s. He continued making badges until 1840, size though growing increasingly smaller due to the increased cost of materials or diminishing profit margins. In 1837 he manufacture 3722 tags for a total contract of $8,141. Unfortunately the trail goes cold regarding the poor soul who wore the tag. All records were lost after the Civil War-
 

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Wow - Just adding my words of congrats and admiration to the many already offered here . . .
 

Awesome finds man !
 

I don't understand how there are 6 pages of responses and votes yet no banner yet?
 

Well done! The tag evokes all kinds of emotions. The stories it could tell if it had a voice...
 

A splendid historical find from Americas dark past, no brain banner so why is it not there :icon_scratch: once again members not being rewarded with fantastic finds.

SS
 

Well done! The tag evokes all kinds of emotions. The stories it could tell if it had a voice...

That story would definitely be an interesting one-

The badges, Hodder says, "evoke a personal history which is almost unfathomable: beatings, hardships, tears, pain, separation, loss, a terrible sense of abandonment." At the same time, he adds, "one can read into them a sense of hope and planning for the future—the slave working to earn as much money as possible, perhaps to purchase his freedom or the freedom of a family member."
 

Cannot understand why this thing is NOT on the BANNER YET?!?!?! A gold coin valued at about $250 in gold value makes it......and a slave tag doesn't?? I don't get it.:dontknow:
 

I haven't seen the banner in months because I use the T-Net app. So, I just checked online and see there is another slave tag on the banner right now. That's why Jon's tag hasn't made it up top yet. It's the same scenario as pepperj's GW button that was found in Canada a while ago.
 

I haven't seen the banner in months because I use the T-Net app. So, I just checked online and see there is another slave tag on the banner right now. That's why Jon's tag hasn't made it up top yet. It's the same scenario as pepperj's GW button that was found in Canada a while ago.

If it's worthy it's worthy. In my opinion (which I know means nothing) if there's 5 chain cents found in the same week they should all go up. If there's 8 tree coins they should all go up. I just hate it when somebody finds something amazing and doesn't get the recognition it deserves. A killer rare find is a killer rare find. Regardless if somebody else happens to have found the same thing at the same time
 

If it's worthy it's worthy. In my opinion (which I know means nothing) if there's 5 chain cents found in the same week they should all go up. If there's 8 tree coins they should all go up. I just hate it when somebody finds something amazing and doesn't get the recognition it deserves. A killer rare find is a killer rare find. Regardless if somebody else happens to have found the same thing at the same time

I agree 100% Ahab.
 

How many Gold coins up there now.....more than one.

SS
 

I haven't seen the banner in months because I use the T-Net app. So, I just checked online and see there is another slave tag on the banner right now. That's why Jon's tag hasn't made it up top yet. It's the same scenario as pepperj's GW button that was found in Canada a while ago.

There are two pieces of gold jewelry right next to each other right now...the ring and the coin with bezel. This should be on banner.
 

How many Gold coins up there now.....more than one.

SS
Believe me......I'm not detracting from the gold coin find, or finder of it, but the monetary value and rarity of the slave tag, surpasses the gold coin TEN TIMES OVER! I just don't see the "justification" of leaving this off the banner. Should have been up the day after it was found.
 

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