Love tokens are real coins that have been engraved or altered to become sentimental keepsakes. In short, a love token is exactly what it sounds like – a small, portable reminder of affection and of human ingenuity. An everyday object, transformed – by art – into a symbol of love.
These tiny, beautiful objects tell a story – of craftsmanship, tradition, and the quiet power of human connection.
What Exactly Is a Love Token?
A love token begins life as a genuine coin. The surface is usually smoothed down – either by hand or machine – and then engraved with an inscription or design. Sometimes just one side is altered, sometimes both.
The most common engravings are initials. Often, the letters are artfully intertwined into monograms or triple overlapping initials, to make the best use of the small space. But love tokens can also feature full names, dates, phrases, or even detailed pictorial designs.
Whilst our modern romanticism might like to imagine that love tokens were always given to a lover, in reality, the purpose of a love token is simply to give someone a physical reminder of how much they mean to you. That might be a sweetheart, but it could just as easily be a close friend or a family member. Love tokens weren’t exclusively romantic gestures; they were given as gifts between siblings, parents and children, friends, and even traded by Victorian schoolgirls.
Of course, romance found its way in, too. Throughout their history, love tokens have acted as a tangible reminder of love for a couple in a long-distance relationship, and it is said that a man proposing marriage might combine the first letter of his beloved’s name with the first letter of his surname, as a subtle way to suggest she take his name (Collectors Weekly).
Folk Art or Big Business?
Love tokens began as sentimental and deeply personal creations – folk art in its truest sense. Many were made by ordinary people with a steady hand and an eye for design. As the popularity of love tokens grew, they became part of a wider industry, with some engravers and jewellers turning heartfelt gestures into profitable business.
The tokens that survive today reflect this mix of origins. Some are simple and modest; others are highly elaborate. Each captures a moment where art, industry, and human connection come together.
Earlier love tokens, particularly in Britain, were often hand-smoothed, while later Victorian and American tokens were more commonly machine-finished before engraving, reflecting the growing commercial demand. As new printing technologies emerged and traditional wood-type engravers found themselves out of steady work, many turned their skills to coins, creating elaborate engraved designs for paying customers. What started as a side hustle soon became a full-blown fashion, with love tokens making their way into jewellery boxes around the world (Collectors Weekly).
Love tokens reached the height of their popularity during the late 1800s, when sentimental jewellery was all the rage in both Britain and America. In the United States, it is said that they became so popular that they contributed to a shortage of dimes.
The quality of a love token can sometimes reveal its maker. A finely detailed, perfectly balanced design is likely the work of a professional. More rustic or uneven engravings suggest the loving hands of an amateur. Some tokens were even prepared in advance with generic words like “Mother,” “Baby,” or “Sister,” ready to be purchased and personalised on the spot. But the most meaningful love tokens are those with specific initials, names, or dates – designed with someone particular in mind.
Beyond Initials: Rare and Remarkable Designs
Initials and monograms are the most common motifs found on love tokens. As these tokens were traditionally given as keepsakes or mementoes, the engravings often feature the initials of the giver – a subtle, lasting reminder of their affection.
While we might expect love hearts to dominate these sentimental pieces, they are surprisingly uncommon on love tokens. Decorative motifs more commonly include universal symbols of sentiment and good fortune, such as flowers and birds, as well as symbolic designs such as anchors (representing hope), horseshoes (for luck), and ivy (for everlasting love).
Rarer examples include pictorial love tokens, which feature full scenes or symbols telling a story in miniature, and rebus tokens, where pictures replace words to form a bon mot, playful phrase or secret message. Remarkable examples of these can be seen in museum collections, such as those at the Foundling Museum in London (Foundling Museum).
Why We Love Love Tokens
There is something charming about the transformation of a humble coin into a personal memento. Love tokens are a subtle subversion of both purpose and form. Small enough to tuck into a pocket or wear on a chain, and made from valuable metals like silver or gold, they hold both emotional and material worth.
Love tokens are more than just modified coins. They are relics of human connection – small works of art that speak across the centuries, and tangible pieces of history ready to be treasured all over again.
Shop Our Collection
Explore the romance of the past in our collection of antique and vintage jewellery – where love tokens and other sentimental treasures are waiting to be discovered.
Shop Our Love Tokens Now and give new life to a story from the past.
Continue the Story…
In the next part of this series, we’ll explore the fascinating history of love tokens – from medieval traditions to Victorian fashion statements and beyond.
Subscribe to be notified when we publish part 2!