Slave Tags?

I know this is a very controversial subject. I like a lot of coins that have been engraved, such as love tokens. I love how personal they feel. I know slavery was a terrible, I mean just awful and unforgivable thing, but some of the slave tags that I've seen look very ornate.

Something like this one above I feel like is too nice to be made for a slave but maybe I am wrong. A lot of the ones that I've seen look to be crudely done, usually just counterstamped, not ornately engraved like these. Here are some more of these more engraved pieces:

Im wondering if examples like this are really Slave Tags or something else. If anybody knows anything that would help me feel free to comment your opinions. Thanks

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Wow... Call me naive, but I didn't even know this sort of thing existed until today but I guess it kind of makes sense.

I'm also curious if "ladyboy" meant the same thing in 1837 as it does today!

 

Those very well appear to be reproduction pieces that can be had from eBay at minimal cost except for the many people who try to sell those for hundreds of dollars thinking they are real. Genuine Slave tags that I've seen aren't usually as ornate (Reason why I think these are fantasy slave tags to sell for decoration) and sell for thousands of dollars depending o the condition.

 

I agree. These are reproduction/fantasy pieces.

 

That makes sense because I saw ones similar going for very cheap. ANd what does fantasy piece mean?

 

That the piece is not reproducing something that actually existed. It's an original creation, or a fantasy.

 

Oh okay that makes sense

 

In addition, all three "tags" illustrated above appear to have been made with the same lettering punches, despite being widely geographically separated.

 

Every authentic slave tag I have ever seen has been from Charleston South Carolina. There are reproductions of the Charleston pieces even... but if it's not from Charleston it's highly unlikely that it is real.

See the pieces heritage has sold.

http://www.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?N=0+790+231&Nty=1&Ntt=slave+tag

 

Do you guys know any other types of coin/ tokens that would be engraved? I own a lot of love tokens which I really like but after finding this I feel like maybe there are other types of engraved coins/tokens.

 

Presentation medals, awarded to a specific individual, are often engraved.

 

Everyday circulating coins were engraved in the past...and even today on occasion. People would engrave their name, birthdate, where they lived, or anything else that struck their fancy. You also see these on eBay fairly often. Sometimes they're described as counterstamped by those who don't know the difference. I collect counterstamps but not engraved coins or tokens. There's a definite difference.

Bruce

 

I really like how personal they feel. Doing more research I found some hard times tokens and Civil war tokens that also have that person feel to them so I might look into them more.

 

Almost anything engraved for a person will have that feel to it. Trophies, plaques, jewelry, some souvenirs and time pieces to mention a few. Many are very ornate and collectable.

 

Also check these out.

Post yours.

 

I know but I like the idea of some things about the size of coins or a little bigger.

 

Post my love tokens?

 

I can vouch for their being fantasy pieces - the one from Stratford Hall Virginia was Gen'l Robert E. Lee's birthplace - thus a likely fantasy.

 

I really can relate to desiring the personal aspect of the engraving. Something in addition to coins/tokens, etc I have found that I really enjoy are letters. I happened across some letters written by Sam Houston to his son. The subject matter of the letter was of no historical significance. He was writing about a new hat he had purchased. I find things like this fascinating and from your posts I think it may be something of interest to you as well?

 

Sure, check the thread.