Coin World Article: Convict's Love Token Sells

Cool piece with a great story! Thanks for posting.

I was in Hobart in 2002, and they had an exhibition of love tokens at the Museum. There was also a book for sale at that exhibition.

I'm into Genealogy, and I am familiar with researching the convict era.

There was another Edward Rowland -
Convicted at: Central Criminal Court
Sentence term: 10 years
Ship: Thomas Arbuthnot
Departure date: 6th January, 1847
Arrival date: 4th May, 1847

I'm having trouble making out Elizabeth's family name.
My best reading is Elizabeth DA**IN.
I can't find anything similar in the big list of convicts.

The frustrating feature of these "Love Tokens" is that we can't know whether -
Edward made this is a gift to present to Elizabeth;
or as a memento to keep for himself.

Nor can we know whether Elizabeth stayed in the Old Country;
or was she ever reunited with him ?

Or perhaps, their love began in Van Diemen's Land ?

This particular token seems, to my eye, to have been struck with a punch, whereas, from memory, all the others that I have seen have been engraved.

Some collectors might regard this coin as being "mutilated", but I'd call it "enhanced".

If anyone can suggest a better spelling for Elizabeth's surname, I'll be happy to look it up.

the book on the subject is -

"Convict Love Tokens: The Leaden Hearts the Convicts Left Behind"
edited by Timothy Millett & Michele Field

Publisher: Wakefield Press
1st Edition - Date of Publication: 1998
Format: Paperback
Place of Publication: Kent Town, South Australia