Love Tokens: Engraved Coins

In the late 18th century and through the 19th century, engraved coins were widely given as an expression of love. Often, men could not afford to buy their sweetheart a ring, so instead, they would save up to purchase the largest coin denomination they could afford, personalize it, and give to their love upon asking for their hand in marriage. One side of the coin would be sanded down and engraved with the girl's initials or sometimes their name. The coins sometimes had embellishments such as a border or or other design added as well.

The coins were carried by the woman throughout the marriage. Many times a hole was added and it was worn around the neck, or a pin back was added and it was worn near the heart.

Since the engravings were generally done by common men (not trained artists), it is amazing to see the detail and quality of some coins.

Engraved coins were also often given by sailors to girls as promises that they will come back to them after their journey, and so that the girl might have something to remember him by.

"She smiled when I gave her the token and the message. She had the sweetest smile I ever saw, and said she would wear the coin, and hoped there would be luck enough for two about it;"

--- The Luck-Penny, 1888
(The American Magazine Vol 8, p352)

Photo courtesy of
pinetreecoinandjewelry

Bowed Money for Love - Bowed given as a pledge of love or friendship

Bending a coin into a cup shape (to "hold in the love") and given as a token of love, was a practice performed by many. It was common for men to give a bowed coin to their sweethearts with a proposal or promise of marriage.

This was also known as Broken Money or Crooked Money, which should bring to mind the old rhyme, "There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile. He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile. He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse. And they all lived together in a crooked house."

Photos courtesy of lovitantiques2010

Bent Coins for Luck
The tradition began at some point in the middle ages. If a person were sick (or even an animal), a coin was bent and placed close to their body, and an request was made to a particular saint. When the person recovered, they either kept the coin or sent it as a gift to the church or a shrine of that saint who looked kindly upon them.

Families kept these coins and surely told their children of the good fortune they had brought, and those legends brought around a belief that any coin when bent would bring good fortune.

Sources:
Notes and queries, 1869 - Page 370
Observations on the popular antiquities of Great Britain, Vol. 2, 1875 - page 94
Brand's popular antiquities of Great Britain, 1905 - page 64