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FRIDAY AUGUST 30, 2024 • VOL. 54, NO. 35
Exceptionally Rare Charleston “Free” Badge Acquired By The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
New Research Shows The Previously Unknown Numismatic Origins Of “U” And “X” Badges Weeks after the Revolutionary War ended by the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the newly incorporated city of Charleston, S.C., began to pass laws. The population of the city was overwhelmingly African American with more than 8,000 people in the community, and the vast majority of them
enslaved workers in which an individual went to work for an entity other than their enslaver, who was paid a fee for the service provided. An annual fee of five to forty shillings was to be paid to the city by the enslaver for the right of an enslaved person to be hired out, and a badge or ticket was required
The Charleston “FREE” Badge was engraved by Thomas Albernethie, ca. 1787-89, in Charleston, S.C., in copper, was a museum purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund and Partial Gift of John Kraljevich, 2024-171. were enslaved; only about 600 were living there as free citizens. Ever fearful of insurrection, the city’s administration continued to implement policies designed to constrain the lives of all of its African American residents. An ordinance from Nov. 22, 1783, regulated the employment or “hiring out” of skilled and unskilled
to be worn by the laborer. While no examples of “slave” badges dating to 1783 are known to exist today, 10 “free” badges from later in the 1780s have been located and are either in private or museum collections. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has recently acquired one of these “free” badges, and it is now on view in the Lowcountry
section of the exhibition, “A Rich and Varied Culture,” in the Nancy N. and Colin G. Campbell Gallery of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, one of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. “It’s an important piece, and an emotional one,” said J. Grahame Long, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s executive director of collections and deputy chief curator. “Obviously, it’s a terrific addition to Colonial Williamsburg’s permanent collection, but it goes much further than that. It’s a critical component in telling America’s whole story.” The Charleston “hiring out” law did not pertain to enslaved workers only. It went further to affect the free African American population as well by stating: every free negro, mulatto or [mestizo] living or residing within this City, shall be obliged to register him, her or themselves, in the office of the City Clerk, with the number of their respective families and places of residence every free negro, mulatto, or mestizo, above the age of fifteen years, shall be obliged to obtain a badge from the Corporation of the City, for which badge every such person shall pay into the City Treasury the sum of Five Shillings, and shall wear it suspended by a string or ribband, and exposed to view on his breast.
Red Rose Coin Club Show To Be Held Aug. 31 On Saturday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Red Rose Coin Club will hold its coin show at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. This annual event falls on Labor Day weekend and is a premier opportunity for buying, selling, and trading coins and paper money. Food will be available for sale by the Paradise Lions Club while shoppers browse over 40 tables full of numismatic and bullion
related items from a diverse array of dealers. In addition to the standard U.S. currency, there will be some foreign and ancient coins as well. Whether showgoers are looking to complete a set or just get started and learn about the hobby, the show serves as a good opportunity for both. For those interested in selling, many of the exhibiting dealers will be happy to make offers. Unlike shopping
on the internet, visitors to the show can examine the items in person. Free-of-charge parking is plentiful, and admission is also free of charge. Historically, gold and silver have been a popular hedge against inflation; compare prices on similar items and find a deal. Security will be on-site. The Farm and Home Center is located at 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, Pa.
Through these requirements, the city of Charleston levied a fee on the right of free people of color to live and work there, which was a stinging irony when considering the root causes of the American Revolution. The penalties for breaking this law were harsh: failure to comply could cause a free person to be fined £3, which if not paid within 10 days could force the person to the workhouse (jail) and work for up to 30 days. Enslaved individuals caught wearing a “free” badge were subject to whipping, by up to 39 lashes, followed by an hour in the stocks. “I can’ t help but see the parallels between these 18thcentury ‘free’ badges and the yellow stars worn by Jews during the Holocaust,” said Erik Goldstein, Colonial Williamsburg’s senior curator of mechanical arts, metals, and numismatics. “Both survive as reminders of horrific ideologies, and how humanity must do better going forward.” Of the 10 known “free” badges, with one exception, all are made of copper. Their iconography is misleadingly uplifting: they featured the “Phrygian” cap and pole, symbolizing the lofty ideals of liberty since ancient times and were rendered in high relief and emblazoned “FREE.” Each of these badges carries a unique sequential designator as they were intended Continued on page 2
“Edward Duffield: Philadelphia Clockmaker, Citizen, Gentleman 1730-1803” Lecture At Historic Rock Ford Will Be Sept. 28
H i s t o r i c R o c k Fo r d w e l comes Bob Frishman as he presents “Edward Duffield: Philadelphia Clockmaker, Citizen, Gentleman 1730-1803” on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m., in the Langmuir Education Room located on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn, 881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, Pa. Frishman will present an informative historical overview on Edward Duffield, who was far more than a clockmaker in 18thce n t u r y Ph i la d e l p h i a . W h i le Duffield made, repaired, and sold elegant floor-standing clocks, surveying instruments, and sundials that today are in museums and private collections, he was also a wealthy property owner and active civic and Anglican Church leader. He was also a lifelong friend of Benjamin Franklin and served as executor of Franklin’s estate. Frishman’s presentation will be supplemented with over 100 images from his Continued on page 7
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . .
starting on page 2
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . .
on page 4
EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR on page 5 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 5 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . . . . on page 6
FEATURE ARTICLE: Meet Me At The Fair - Page 5
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 7