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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Help identify 2 small gold coins

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Expert: Neil S Berman - 10/5/2007


Question

gold coin earrings
2 small gold coins, liberty head United States of America on face. The back sides have unusual symbols and letters. I will scan and attach to give you an idea. Obviously the tops were lightly welded to an earring finding. I'm just wondering what they might be... they are just over .5" in diameter. Any thoughts?

Answer
What you have is a pair of earrings made of what is now called "Love Tokens" by collectors, a common but expensive gift from one lover to another in the nineteenth century. These started out as Type III US one dollar gold coins, made between 1856 and 1889. Later one side was shaved off by a jeweler, who then engraved the initials of each lover on the back of each coin. If you know who owned them, you should be able to find the initials of each lover, and thus their names. Quite cool, no?

Neil S Berman

Expertise

Professional Coin Dealer since 1968. Speciality is US Gold Coins by date, but can answer questions about any US, Colonial or Territorial coin made or issued in the United States from 1650 to 1965.

Experience

Wrote: Coin Collecting for Dummies, Investors Guide to US Coins. Please include a photograph if asking about authenticity or value by email to: nsberman@msn.com

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