1836 Sterling Silver Half Crown With Whb Initials?

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,446
Marine1999 New Member United States 29 Posts	Posted 09/06/2020 03:54 am I was wondering if anyone knew where or why these initials are engraved on this coin? It's an 1836 Sterling silver half crown. The initials are engraved on the obverse of the coin "WHB". The coin was part of an inheritance. The only prominent WHB I see in U.K. history is William H. Borrows who was a popular painter/artist. Was he know for engraving his initials on coins? Are these initials simply just from some auction house? Not sure why an auction house or anyone for that matter would engrave their initials on a coin in the first place. Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff

Marine1999 New Member United States 29 Posts	Posted 09/06/2020 04:08 am Did some more research. It could have been an attempt at making a "love token" which was popular during the time and was a trend that was believed to have begun in the U.K. Report this Post to the Staff
Anaximander Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 709 Posts	Posted 09/06/2020 05:19 am I also think it is a love token. Around that time people also marked coins for advertising. I don't think this is an advert, firstly because it is engraved and secondly because it is a ( for then ) high value coin. All the advertising pieces I have seen are punched on coppers, presumably because it is quicker than engraving and requires less skill, so is cheaper to do. Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16816 Posts	Posted 09/06/2020 05:43 am A "love token" was a memento, made back in the age before photography, by which a loved one could give to their beloved as a reminder of themselves when apart. Once a love token is removed from its family context, it's usually impossible to tell who might have made such items, or who might have been the intended recipient. With only initials to research, it could literally be anybody with those initials who was rich enough to give away a halfcrown. Or perhaps three shillings, as payment to the engraver. With the loss of provenance it has, unfortunately, been reduced to the status of "damaged coin". Skillfully and carefully damaged, but damaged nonetheless. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
oriole Pillar of the Community Canada 5239 Posts	Posted 09/06/2020 07:30 am @sap, yes it is damaged from a numismatic context, but there is considerable collecting interest in love tokens. I collect them. The more details on the coin, the greater interest, simple initials being the least interesting. Report this Post to the Staff
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