Coin and Paper Money Collecting/COINS

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/6/2009


Question

old coin
as to the 1877 coin i told you early,yes it is reeded like the 10 cent peace of today.it's almost paper thin and the letters JTF are wrote on it

Answer

1878obv
Hello again Darryl,                        

Thank you for getting back to me so soon
As I mentioned in your previous answer this does look like it is a "Love Token".

What you describe may well be a fantasy piece or a Love Token, without seeing it I can’t be sure. You can usually tell if a coin design is engraved or the design is stamped by the mint and raised as a modern coin is.

Some people made coins into love tokens by engraving their initials and giving it to someone as a keepsake. This was more commonly done with silver coins as yours but nickels and large cents as well.
Through the years couples people have chosen a variety of different trinkets and charms as tokens of love or luck to express their best wishes or affection to someone special in their lives. Some of the more popular were thimbles, pin cushions, rings, and carved spoons. During the Victorian period the ever popular valentine card was introduced. This period also marked the peak of popularity for using engraved coins as love tokens.

Love Tokens such as the example you describe are coins that were taken from circulation and engraved with something special on them. They are referred to as love tokens because most were made for a special occasion and presented to the receiver as a gesture of love and / or affection. They were most popular here in the United States during the period commencing shortly after the civil war until the early 1890's.  

Love tokens in the form of coins were a keepsake between two people wanting to remember each other or some occasion.

They might have a hole drilled or a loop soldered on each part to be worn on a necklace or charm bracelet, watch fob etc. or just be a pocket piece to hold or rub for luck.

There could be other coins too. But look into “love tokens” if your are interested in this type of collectable.

Take a look at this page;
http://www.geocities.com/lovetokensociety/

Be sure to check the links at the bottom for some very elaborately engraved coins.

As a fantasy piece it has no value except as a novelty item. Sorry if this is not what you expected.
Below are some sites I use to give examples to others.

http://www.treasurehunting.tv/archived_treasure_hunting/2006/07/what_is_a_love_t...
And
http://www.kenbarr.com/lovetokens.html

I hope this information helps.  Please feel free to ask any question on US Coins.

Good Luck

PapaJack

    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentNo Comment


  • Ask a Question

PAPAJACK

Expertise

Knowledge of United States Coins from 1793 to date. Able to answer most common numismatic questions. Collected U.S. Coins from half cent to 50 dollar gold coins.

Experience

QUALITY CONTROL
United States Coin COLLECTOR/DEALER OVER 20 YEARS, U.S. COINS Worked trade shows,
EXPERT Consulting since 1990, Knowledge of all methods of fabrication used in the industry.
Hobbies:US notes, clocks, cars, computers, coins, leisure activity and crafts to name a few.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.