Slave Hire Badges commonly called slave tags were made from 1800-1865 in Charleston, S.C. and issued to owners of enslaved Blacks 'working out on hire'. During this time there were seven known badge makers working with prepared punches on copper tags. Check out the Charleston Museum web site to see some of the best examples of slave badges. The Slave-Hire System allowed an urban slave a limited amount of freedom to carry on a trade and earn a meager income.