How about a "Love Token" post

Musky1011 · October 21, 2007 11:08AM

The ultimate Folk art
Post em pleeze
a couple of seated dimes

Jim

ricko · October 21, 2007 11:10AM

Very nice.. although I prefer them with one side intact.... Cheers, RickO

Musky1011 · October 21, 2007 11:14AM

obverses posted

savoyspecial · October 28, 2007 7:12AM

1853 w/ Arrows Quarter (one year type)
greg

ricko · October 28, 2007 7:14AM

Very nice.. and thanks for the obverses... Cheers, RickO

lordmarcovan · November 14, 2007 8:20AM

I should image some of mine. No pics right now.

This is a cool thread, though. I think love tokens deserve more lovin', so TTT we go.

relicsncoins · November 14, 2007 12:49PM

This little package was in the stuff my Grandma left me.

When I opened it I found this.

I sure wish I knew something about it, but no one in the family seems to know.

Munkey · December 14, 2007 8:53AM

Just my 2 cents...

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SeattleSlammer · December 14, 2007 9:04AM

relicsncoins, that's fantastic!

Russ · December 14, 2007 9:10AM

Reverse of a 1919 Lincoln.

Russ, NCNE

fcloud · December 14, 2007 9:13AM

Russ, that is a very nice cent. That gives a new meaning to In God We Trust.!

MWallace · December 14, 2007 9:37AM

I just got this one in the mail yesterday.

lordmarcovan · December 14, 2007 9:39AM

Fantastic!

If that were neatly holed at the top, I'd really lust after it for my Holey Coin Vest.

GritsMan · December 14, 2007 9:43AM

Okay, these are cool, but what are they? Any background/history would be greatly appreciated. I never heard of 'em!

Cameonut · December 14, 2007 9:53AM

Although I am not a collector of Love Tokens, I do have several that were passed down over the years. These pieces were given to me in the '60's with the explanation that they were my great grandmothers'. I do not know who is represented by some of the pieces with initials, but the one with "Con" on it is for my grandfather who was born in 1894. Since his name was passed down to me (I am Conrad III) it has some sentimental value. I have rarely seen the rings and clasps for these bracelets. Over the years, they probably just disappear.

Sorry for the quick and crummy pics, but that's the best I can get in a hurry. One pic for the "obverses" and another for the "reverses". The only date that is readable is 1877.

I have a really hard time figuring out the initials on these.

eyoung429 · December 14, 2007 9:54AM

Necklace

Russ · December 14, 2007 9:59AM

<< <i>Okay, these are cool, but what are they? Any background/history would be greatly appreciated. I never heard of 'em! >>

In most cases, they were created by individual artisans as gifts. Frequently given to loved ones, thus the term love token. There are examples that are as old as the coin itself, as well as more recently carved pieces. Some of the more ornate and decorative examples can bring pretty strong money.

Russ, NCNE

lordmarcovan · December 14, 2007 9:59AM

These are coins that have been hand-engraved as folk art. Though they've been done for centuries, this sort of artistry reached its pinnacle in the late 19th century, from about the 1870s to 1890s. Seated dimes and gold dollars are two common coins that are often found re-engraved as love tokens.

They're called "love tokens" because it was traditional to give your lady love one with her name or initials on it. However, in reality, they were created and given for a number of purposes.

The engraving, as with all original artwork, can range from the crude to the sublime. The one Musky posted in the first post is very nice.

These are like collecting coins AND artwork at the same time. And they're inexpensive, usually, with dimes running anywhere from about $9-15, on up to $20+ for nicer ones. (Or, as Russ mentioned, way on up into the low stratosphere for superb examples.)

GritsMan · December 14, 2007 11:01AM

Thanks, guys. The ornate designs are very impressive, and I am glad to know about these. I would cherish one if it had been handed down in my family.

WinPitcher · December 14, 2007 11:11AM

I too have about 5 or 6 of these tokens. thanks for showing them. I wish I could show mine. perhaps 2morrow I'll give it a shot.

Steve

lordmarcovan · December 14, 2007 11:21AM

I've got three or four Seated dime love tokens (and a Barber dime, I think) on my Holey Coin Vest, but I don't have pix of them.

It is tempting to try and collect a date set of Seated dimes with love token reverses. Because the reverses will usually be planed off and reengraved, one doesn't have to worry about rare mintmarks and such- it is just a simple, one-a-year set.

I wonder if any of you Seated dime folk have considered this project? Surely somebody has.

If not, I might have to take it on. I added another piece recently. For starters, I would just focus on the Legend Obverse series from 1860 on, since their run was the heyday of love token making.

Smittys · December 15, 2007 3:20AM

Baley · December 15, 2007 3:42AM

Here's my only one, has my initials and my grandfather's birth year on a silver dime

Musky1011 · March 19, 2008 6:48AM

ttt

crispy · March 19, 2008 9:41AM

Here's a 1 dollar gold piece that must have been made for someone special. It certainly broke my heart. I acquired it from a collection that I was liquidating.

Sorry for the poor quality but you get the idea.

engraved · March 19, 2008 10:28AM

It says "Mack, I wish you another quarter century. Hazen 1870" It looks like a gift from Hazen to Mack for his 25th birthday. It's on a quarter that dates 25 years earlier to presumably Mack's birth year of 1845.

BRdude · March 19, 2008 11:13AM

Very cool. I've always loved these, but have never acquired any for some reason. Maybe I need to keep my eye's peeled

Musky1011 · March 27, 2009 10:52AM

my new 1856 seated half dime love token

FatMan · March 27, 2009 11:02AM

Mar327 · March 27, 2009 11:03AM

Barry · March 27, 2009 10:19PM

I don['t have a pic, but several years ago, I found a Seated Dime on EBay with my wife's intitials. Needless to say, I bought it. It looks very much like the style of the coin posted by relicsncoins.