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stones and gems embedded, including
red garnet or pearls. And then there are
Love Tokens in the U.S. the cut-outs, sometimes being as intri-
The Civil War was the impetus for cate as profiles of the couple or a dis-
the making of American love tokens. play of flowers. The artistry positively
Soldiers would use what they had to bloomed as craftsmen challenged
engrave coins with simple information themselves to stretch their creativity.
about who they were to use as “dog Prices for these tokens can vary
tags” or use symbols and initials to sig- greatly depending upon ornamenta-
nify a loved one, an important date, or tion and the skill of the engraver.
in memory of a comrade at arms. Provenance plays a large role in the val-
After the Civil War, engraved coins Civil War era 1861 Philadelphia or San Francisco mint Seated Liberty uation, but that is also something that is
were extremely popular to honor those dime, with engraving upon host coin's reverse: horse pulling covered wagon often missing.
left; script “C E T” below, birds flying above. photo: numismagram.com
who died in the war. Professional
engravers set up shops and would offer a variety of designs and messages

that could be customized for those in mourning and those in love. Survey Says …
Following the death of Queen Victoria’s In 1988, Dr. Sol Taylor completed a
husband in 1861, England also experienced an two-year survey he distributed to mem-
upsurge in making tokens for those who bers of the Love Token Society (LTS)—
had passed and to mark the love enjoyed the source for all knowledge related to love
when a child was born, an engagement took tokens—in hopes of finding out just how
place, or an anniversary celebrated. The many tokens are in the world. Here are
1870s and 80s made engraving a booming Taylor’s written results, along with a few
industry for both the U.S. and England. hints regarding other collections, makes for
Tokens were so popular there were several great reading and insight:
booths at the Columbian Exposition in “The 1988 data, which was published
Chicago in 1893 making a large number of in the Love Letter, the LTS newsletter, Treizain showing shaking
love tokens for attendees. According to some showed that collectors in the survey owned hands and two flaming hearts.
reports, the popularity of love tokens at this a total of 5,735 love tokens. photo: eBay
time created shortages of dimes. Another “Of that number, 5,247 were United
1800s Queen Victoria silver
3-pence Love Token engraved reason was speculated to be that dimes fit States and or Canadian coins. The rest were
with initials AM/MA particularly well on bracelets. foreign coins, medals and tokens.
The most popular of engravings was the “It was also evident to members of the
intertwining of initials between a beau and his lady. Typically, the giver society that coin dealers rarely had any of
would give the receiver a token with their own initials. The exception these pieces, so the LTS membership probably
was when there was a proposal of marriage. The man would give his owned the lion’s share of love tokens.
love a token with her initials, except the last name would be represented “The old dealers who were in business
by the first letter of his surname, asking her to change her name to his. before 1940 often had many such pieces as
Designs taken from nature had their own meanings, such as love- parts of estates they managed to buy during
birds that were known to mate for life, or using the traditional good the Great Depression, when cash was in very
luck symbol – the horseshoe. Bluebirds were considered the “bird of This beautiful love token is short supply and heirs and collectors alike
happiness.” Other designs included a lighthouse signifying a safe the size of a US Liberty were willing to part with their family heir-
harbor, a small boat at sea when one was traveling, or certain flowers Dime with the year 1885 looms and coin collections.
with specific meanings such as forget-me-nots or a rose. cutout of a Liberty Dime. “In the Maurice M. Gould estate, which
Over time, the use of images and love designs moved from coins to Selling for $95 at Etsy. I sold in 1976 and 1977, there were some
jewelry such as rings, stickpins, 4,000 love tokens – probably the
necklaces, and earrings, and con- largest number in one dealer’s
tinue to be used in jewelry and hands at the time. He and partner
fashion accessories today. The Frank Washburn owned the
popularity of charm bracelets in Copley Coin Co. in downtown
the Mid-20th Century helped to Boston for many years and
reinvigorate the industry. acquired many estates of longtime
New England families.
“When the survey was con-
Collecting ducted, the value of a love token
At its height, there was a Love Tokens were often used in dime was about $3. However,
shortage of smaller coins due to so jewelry, especially pendants and coins with elaborate designs,
many being used to love tokens, bracelets. This example had nine certain themes, and names of
so finding a love token created on different engraved love tokens— prominent persons would bring
a larger coin is a rarity of its own. perhaps a family—that are all made very high prices. One such
Twenty-dollar gold coins were on coins made in the late 1800s. [example], a Morgan dollar in a
used as much for status as for Selling for $145 at RubyLane. Rich Harzog sale in 1977 with a
love or remembrance. It is said steam locomotive crossing a
that most collectors will never see bridge over a valley with a cow
one in their lifetimes. Oddly and farmhouse, brought $125.
enough half-cents are also a rarity “Perhaps a new survey would
since they pre-date the most be in order to see if the population
popular years for engraving coins. of love tokens has changed since
Other things to look for when the 1988 data. Most collectors
collecting are those that feature I know say the change would
some enameling and color (using be only slightly higher than the
black for mourning, blue for true 1988 data.”
love). Some had semi-precious
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