Tiny inscription on a 1909 Barber dime: Have you ever seen anything like this?

Dentuck · November 20, 2014 9:59AM

Here are photos of a love token I picked up at the Whitman Baltimore Expo. The host
coin is a 1909 Barber dime. The reverse features a line from a 1905 sentimental ballad
by Theodore F. Morse --- "Keep a Little Cozy Corner in Your Heart for Me" --- and is
signed by "Sadie."

The dime is in nice condition, so I imagine it was planed and engraved some time in
1909 or 1910, before it saw much if any circulation, and then it was set aside in a
safe place for generations.

I've never seen a love token with such a plain, text-only inscription (no flourishes,
scrolls, or fancy monograms). In fact, this is the smallest font I've ever seen on a
love token. Have you ever seen a love token of similar fabric?

DUIGUY · November 20, 2014 10:08AM

JJSingleton · November 20, 2014 10:16AM

Interesting. I have not seen another like it.

coin4sale · November 20, 2014 11:26AM

very cool.

have never seen one like it.

themaster · November 20, 2014 11:32AM

That is unique. Is it also an error coin? "cosy"

Have a Great Day!
Louis

BustHalfBrian · November 20, 2014 12:06PM

<< That is unique... "cosy"
>>

Education back then wasn't like it is today.

coin22lover · November 20, 2014 12:07PM

How did they apply such even, natural looking wear to completely remove the reverse details? I've always wondered that.

garrynot · November 20, 2014 12:42PM

<< That is unique. Is it also an error coin? "cosy"

Have a Great Day!
Louis >>

Looks like an inadvertent backward Z

illini420 · November 20, 2014 12:43PM

Very cool

TopographicOceans · November 20, 2014 1:05PM

Not from Sadie

jonathanb · November 20, 2014 1:35PM

Not plain, but certainly a small font:

lordmarcovan · November 20, 2014 2:13PM

With the exception of some Lord's Prayer pieces, I've never seen that small a font used on a love token.

"Cosy" is not an error. It is the correct English (i.e., British) spelling of the word.

Very neat piece. I like it. I've been finding myself warming up to love tokens again lately.

CaptHenway · November 20, 2014 2:17PM

<< 

<< That is unique. Is it also an error coin? "cosy"

Have a Great Day!
Louis >>

Looks like an inadvertent backward Z >>

lasvegasteddy · November 20, 2014 2:28PM

jeweler's with pantograph's

i haven't actively sought love tokens to know or have seen an example as such
but surely many exist

dull n plain...just simple stencil work on a pantograph

BLUEJAYWAY · November 20, 2014 3:24PM

<< 

<< That is unique... "cosy"
>>

Education back then wasn't like it is today.

>>

No spell check.

lordmarcovan · November 20, 2014 3:26PM

<< Looks like an inadvertent backward Z >>

I would've said no, but then again, comparing it to the "S" in "SADIE", it looks like you may be right.

thebeav · November 22, 2014 1:45AM

<< jeweler's with pantograph's >>

This coin is hand engraved. No two letters are the same. Even when they look alike at a glance, they are different upon inspection.
They're crooked and all a different size also.

ricko · November 23, 2014 4:26AM

Yep...hand engraved... lots of differences in the E's, O's and R's...to cite a few. Cheers, RickO

MrHalfDime · November 23, 2014 4:56AM

I am presently 'photographically challenged', and unable to post any pictures, but I have a 1795 LM-10/V4 Flowing Hair half dime with the name "Wm. F. Cline" hand engraved in the obverse field, in front of Miss Liberty's face. The engraving is very similar to the OP's coin, with very neat but tiny letters, hand engraved in a block letter font. I know, this post is useless without pictures, but if you're wondering how small the lettering is, remember, I said that it was engraved in the obverse field of a half dime.

Barndog · November 23, 2014 9:57AM

<< I am presently 'photographically challenged', and unable to post any pictures, but I have a 1795 LM-10/V4 Flowing Hair half dime with the name "Wm. F. Cline" hand engraved in the obverse field, in front of Miss Liberty's face. The engraving is very similar to the OP's coin, with very neat but tiny letters, hand engraved in a block letter font. I know, this post is useless without pictures, but if you're wondering how small the lettering is, remember, I said that it was engraved in the obverse field of a half dime. >>

there is a skilled photographer in Raymond, ME (at least until he "snowbirds" soon), just saying...

MrHalfDime · November 23, 2014 10:02AM

"there is a skilled photographer in Raymond, ME (at least until he "snowbirds" soon), just saying..."

Yes, there is. But he is too busy. He recently photographed my encased half dimes for a Gobrecht Journal article in the last issue, and is presently photographing some 1843 half dimes for me for a pending article in the February Gobrecht Journal issue.

Barndog · November 23, 2014 10:03AM

<< "there is a skilled photographer in Raymond, ME (at least until he "snowbirds" soon), just saying..."

Yes, there is. But he is too busy. He recently photographed my encased half dimes for a Gobrecht Journal article in the last issue, and is presently photographing some 1843 half dimes for me for a pending article in the February Gobrecht Journal issue. >>

I'm sure he doesn't sleep much now, so sleeping less won't hurt him