My Favorite Love Tokens
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 and/or scenes. 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 1800's, and migrated to the United
States in the mid- to late-1800's. The Seated Liberty dime of the
1850's - 1880's is by far the most popular "host coin", but tokens are
known on all denominations of U. S. coins from half cents through twenty-dollar
gold pieces as well as numerous world coin denominations.
The Love Token Society is an international organization of love token enthusiasts. More information on the society can be found on their website at
http://www.lovetokensociety.com
The standard reference work on love tokens is
"Love Tokens as Engraved Coins" by Lloyd L. Entenmann,
privately published, 1991.
The following are some of my favorite tokens in my love token collection ...
R. A. Chapter Brockton (Masonic keystone in center) Sept. 10, 1875 on 1849 large cent |
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on ribbon across maple leaf on 1872 Indian Cent [the first love token I
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from a friend on 1833 Bust half dime |
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on "WITH CENTS" Liberty nickel (gold plated, could have been intended for use as a "Racketeer" nickel, except for the fact that it is on a WITH CENTS nickel ... hmmm) [my initials --- always looking for additional KB or KJB love tokens ...] |
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tennis rackets and net on 1887 Seated Liberty dime |
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on 1891 Seated Liberty dime |
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on 1875 Seated Liberty dime |
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on 1890 Seated Liberty dime |
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on 1875 twenty cent piece |
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on 1877 Seated Liberty quarter |
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Married Nov. 12, 1868 on 1854 With Arrows Seated Liberty half dollar |
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Egypt 1944 [possibly engraved by a bored World War II soldier while stationed in Egypt] |
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on 1877 Trade dollar (working pin) |
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on 1878 Morgan dollar [my mother's initials ---
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on 1879 Morgan dollar (working pin) |
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on 1884 Morgan dollar (deeply engraved/detailed borders) |
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("Love of my life") JYE on Eisenhower dollar [purchased for 50¢ by a friend
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on 1861 Clark Gruber territorial $2.50 gold piece |
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Dec 25 '94 on 1868 $3 gold piece |
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Tigers P. E. Powell Goal 1909 - 10 on 1895 $10 Liberty gold with BPOE - Canada emblem |
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on 1914 $10 Indian gold |
on Newfoundland Victoria dime |
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Her Sister, by Caroline on 1797 Great Britain two pence (engraved in field) |