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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,140 |
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Valued Member
United States
359 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United States
359 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1053 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
1751 Posts |
These are some nice love tokens.
Wasn't an uncommon practice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
How can this seller know this was a San Francisco mint issue with the original back completely milled off? It could very well have been a Philadelphia or Carson City struck coin. Ed ANA LM-3175 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
First the 1794 LC thread and now this?
Folks I understand that you all might have a thing or two to learn about classic coins, but please take a few minutes to do some research on such topics.
This coin is love token, and while I understand you find it to be a "modification horror", many people collect such horrors.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Ben's right; this is all part of the history of 19th century coins. And among love tokens, I think a 20¢ piece would be a rare find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I decided to educate the first seller:
[an antique dealer and not a coin dealer]
Dear helenmurtle,
What you have is commonly called a "Love Token." Men with more patience and time than money would take a coin and carve the wife's or girl friend's initials on it. Some of these pieces were made into jewelery as was yours.
While by no means rare, these pieces are collectible by specialists.
You do realize that there is no way to determine the mint? These pieces
were made in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Carson City Nevada.
As for the denomination, that is obliterated as well. Did you compare the size to a modern quarter?
All in all, you choose a fair price.
- studmv
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
It also doesn't look like a 20-cent piece...my initial thought is it's a dime.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The first coin is not a 20 cent it is a dime. The second does appear to be a 20 cent piece. Dime love tokens are common but 20 cent love token would be a lot scarcer.
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Ack! Those cannot be unseen!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
A quick and grateful reply from the seller.
Dear studmv,
Hello, I do appreciate this information. I really had no Idea as to the background of this coin. I will revise my selling information. This explains the back side of the coin. It's always nice when someone like you take the time to share what you know about items listed by us who just know something is collectible but don't know why. Thanks again. Helen
- helenmurtle
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
While today many people ask why did they do this, smooth the reverse and engrave it, to very collectible coins. Well, at the time this was done to these coins they were mere pocket change and none of the people who had these coins made into love tokens would never have thought that the coin they were defacing would be worth much more than face value so far into the future. So, rather than view these love tokens as modification horrors appreciate them as the works of art they have become. Ed ANA LM-3175 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
Quote:
Well, at the time this was done to these coins they were mere pocket change and none of the people who had these coins made into love tokens would never have thought that the coin they were defacing would be worth much more than face value so far into the future. I understand that, but it still makes me cringe. I am only human, after all.  |
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Valued Member
United States
359 Posts |
Ditto what jbuck said. I appreciate the history, but it doesn't make it hurt any less!  |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,140 |
Posted 07/11/2013 12:09 am
