In the united states these coin engravings have come to be known as love tokens. The first english coins that were actually engraved instead of. Found all over the world, love tokens are coins that have been removed from circulation, sanded smooth on at least one side, and handengraved with letters andor symbols that represent a particular sentiment. Only a few hundred survive today, so they are significant historical objects. All types of coins were used from the cheapest copper ones up to the most expensive. Jul 07, 2017 found all over the world, love tokens are coins that have been removed from circulation, sanded smooth on at least one side, and hand engraved with letters andor symbols that represent a particular sentiment. As a result, these coins are much rarer and in higher demand among collectors. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. New listing love token pendant engraved crom to blanch jan. Typical messages included terms of endearment, anniversary dates, a lovers initials, or a romantic symbol such as a heart, blue birds, or flowers. For centuries, smoothed coins were used as love tokens, with the initials of the sender engraved or embossed on the surface. Also, if you look at antique jewelry books, youll see that 1900 was the. These were often given to young ladies as tokens of love by suitors, seems to have originated as a practice in great britain in the early 1800s, and migrated to the united. Convict love tokens give us a personal perspective that of the convict.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, love tokens were common. See more ideas about vintage love, vintage charm bracelet and love. Express your love with sincerity and thoughtful words with our all my love personalized heart pocket token. The love token is a coin that has been smoothed flat on one or both sides and has been handengraved with sentimental messages, names, love signs as hearts. It is a hand engraved book with the words holy bible. Each love is a tiny, tangible piece of someones story that history has left behind of us to find. Coins personalized for a sweetheart were given as an expression of love, and often as a proposal of marriage. It wasnt so much about lovers but more about marking an occasion such as births, marriages and deaths.
Interesting coins a love token on valentines day coinweek. Love tokens are coins that were engraved after the minting process was complete. This is a tradition which has existed for many years and is not just confined to england. Love tokens, as opposed to the more general term, tokens of love, are literally coins that have been smoothed and engraved on at least one side, sometimes both, to express a sentiment or memorialize an event. Love tokens are generally defined as coins on which one side or sometimes both sides has been smoothed down and engraved with initials, names, phrases andor scenes. Nov 30, 2018 this style of love token may date from as early as 0s england and peaked during the ohsosentimental victorian era, when it was common to have love token stands set up shop at fairs. The author provide much information on the creation and original sale of love tokens. Entenmann in his 1991 tome, love tokens as engraved coins, the hand engraved coin as a token of love usually bears a name, initials, pictorial, message or scene. Engraved love token coins featured in new 3rd edition of mega. A really cool love token when one considers the bust dime host coin and the workmanship to create a button like appearance.
You may have to search a bit to find a copy but they are available. I currently have four love tokens in my collection. Love tokens are generally defined as coins where one or sometimes both sides have been smoothed down and engraved with initials, names. Millett was fascinated by the tokens and acquired a large collection from a customer in 1984. After the war love tokens were no longer fashionable and by the 1920s the practice of engraving coins had all but stopped. Found all over the world, love tokens are coins that have been removed from circulation, sanded smooth on at least one side, and hand engraved with letters andor symbols that represent a particular sentiment.
The top row of token are all 1892 barber dimes while the attached second row. These specialized coin books explore the primary united states tokens, including the colonial, merchant, hard times, transportation, trade, civil war, and gay nineties tokens. Hand engraved coins by shaun hughes nickels tokens love tokens and hobo nickels are reworked coins. Eclectic numismatic treasure love tokens and engraved coins nnp is 100% nonprofit and independent your feedback is essential and welcome. Jul 26, 2017 love tokens saw a resurgence in popularity during world war ii, when women on the home front would wear sweetheart jewelry to honor their loved ones fighting overseas. Weve covered them all before and here are a few from the archives youll definitely love. At the height of their popularity in the late 1800s, love tokens were all the rage in the united states and great britain. Laura is a student from ireland in love with books, writing, coffee, and cats. A coin, however, could be quite cheaply engraved and kept as a memento. A guide book of united states coins, deluxe edition, 3rd edition. It is thought that a young man would prove his love to his young lady by physically bending a coin in front on her. Aug 02, 2017 a love token is defined as a coin that has been smoothed flat on one or both sides and then hand engraved, usually with a keepsake message for a sweetheart or family member. Love token engraved with initials ww on a 1876 seated liberty half. Other dime type designs were also used as the host for such defacings, as well as denominations of other coins.
Oct 23, 2017 in steves collection, the tokens range from heavy silver coins with initials professionally engraved to pennies worn smooth through hours of labour and engraved in stilted painstaking letters. There are 314 convict love tokens in the national museums collection, ranging in date from 1762 to 1856. The origins of love tokens might be traced back to medieval french treizains, or coins that were. Values it is very difficult to value love tokens as so much depends on the popularity of the name or how many people want a particular set of initials. He continued to build his collection and researched the people named on the. New 3rd edition of mega red features engraved love token coins. Love token engraved class of 85 on 1884 liberty seated dime silver coin art.
The standard reference work on love tokens is love tokens as engraved coins 1991 by lloyd l. But love tokens are literally tokens, coins that have been taken out of circulation. Get the best deals on love tokens when you shop the. Love tokens were typically made from seated liberty dimes. Snippet results will appear in the newman portal search. In many examples shown here, the amount of effort expended in working these coins, smoothing, engraving or cutting them is truly extraordinary, which. The inscribed examples are unmistakably love tokens but we should still appreciate the skill and artwork involved. Seated liberty half dime 10 5 cent v nickel indian head love token coin lot ending today at 10. During the victorian era, these tokens were tangible emotions you could carry with you everywhere you wentor even wear as.
Engraved coins as jewelry engraved jewelry, engraved necklace, personalized jewelry, antique jewelry, vintage jewelry, jewelers near me, half dollar, vintage diamond, womens earrings vintage love vintage items old head matchbox art broken promises old bottles victorian jewelry beautiful love hand engraving. From the collection of a well known bust coinage expert. We carry the top us token books that provide collectors, dealers, and hobbyists with descriptions and pricing information. Some love tokens have holes in them so the recipient could wear the token around her neck or on her wrist. This style of love token may date from as early as 0s england and peaked during the ohsosentimental victorian era, when it was common to have love token stands set up shop at fairs. New 3rd edition mega red features engraved love token coins. They were given as amulets and charms to prospective lovers. See more ideas about jewelry, vintage charm bracelet and coin jewelry. Silver pieces books tokens tokens sales tax shell cards coins, antiques. Custom personalized with any name followed by any 3 line message and ending sentiment engraved next to the open heart for a treasured keepsake they will carry with them everyday. It is a valuable addition to a library if you are interested in love tokens. Sometimes these were pierced, which gave recipient the option to wear. The museum purchased 307 tokens from british dealer and collector timothy millett in 2008.
Love tokens represent the heartbreak of being separated from family and friends. The first love tokens were coins that had been bent twice so they could no longer be used as money. These specialized coin books explore the primary united states tokens, including the colonial, merchant, hard times, transportation, trade. Entenmann in his 1991 tome, love tokens as engraved coins, the handengraved coin as a token of love usually bears a name, initials, pictorial, message or scene. Sometimes these were pierced, which gave recipient the option to. These coins, engraved with their loved ones initials, or sometimes their name, were a precious and cherished gift. Tokens love tokens tokens good for trade tokens post cards currency coins badges tokens civil war tokens u. Illustration, vintage book covers, vintage books, old books, antique books. Apr 04, 2018 in the late 18th and 19th centuries, love tokens were common. Love tokens and other engraved coins 278 enameled, cutout, and popout coins 281 bibliography 284 notes 287 show more. Newman numismatic portal at washington university in st. Hand engraved coins by shaun hughes nickels tokens on behance.
Feb 09, 2018 for centuries, smoothed coins were used as love tokens, with the initials of the sender engraved or embossed on the surface. They are handmade, and were passed from one person to another during a time of sadness. Find great deals on ebay for love tokens and love token. Love tokens saw a resurgence in popularity during world war ii, when women on the home front would wear sweetheart jewelry to honor their loved ones fighting overseas. Each of the 16 love tokens are well engraved with many pictorial and name combinations. Sometimes intricate designs were added or geographical scenes engraved. During the victorian era, these tokens were tangible emotions you could carry with you everywhere you wentor even wear as jewelry. The only thing lacking on the trade card is a specific reference to engraving the coins although it can be implied as many more coins were made into love tokens than were drilled, looped, or bezel set as simple coin jewelry. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the united states government outlawed the practice of engraving coins and the custom of exchanging love tokens went out of style in america. In steves collection, the tokens range from heavy silver coins with initials professionally engraved to pennies worn smooth through hours of labour and engraved in stilted painstaking letters. In the united states engraved coins surfaces during the civil war as a means of identification for soldiers and then became a jewelry fad in the 1870s through the turn of the century. Thats because halfcents predate the peak of the lovetoken fad, and before then, the giver of a halfcent token might come across as cheap. Beware it is not a priced catalogthere is and can be no such thing since every love token is unique. In fact, love tokens on half cents and 20dollar gold coins are the most difficult to findmost collectors will never see one in their lifetimes.
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