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Okay, I found this coin in a film tube, kept all alone from all of the other coins. On the front of this coin is a seated liberty with the words 'The United States of America' above her along the edges. Below is 1883. The front looks almost exactly like a Seated Liberty Half-Dime or Dime, I'm not sure which. But this is obverse. I don't know what it is
Category Photography / Human
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 960px
File Size 168.6 kB
I think it's beautiful. I mean, just look at the detail, especially in the R and the T. And everything matches up exactly with the coin, which tells me that it couldn't have been made in one of those amusement park coin pressers. But I don't know why it's all alone. Maybe Dad or Grandpa or Great-Grandpa knew something or just thought it was pretty like me.
My Dad died and my stepmom, the greedy monster she is, allowed me to have a purse filled with these coins because they were my grandparents. Some of the bills even have signatures on them from my grandfather who served over seas. One says 'Somewhere in England, June 19th, 1944'. A little box with a 1889 Gold 10$ coin has a note that says 'Property of Charles J. Phillips'. The thing was just among the coins. And it is a coin, I mean, why would there be a US mint on the front? It even sounds the same when dropped as the sound that a Mercury Dime makes when dropped. So I think it might actually be silver, at least some of it. It's just dirty and worn down. I can hardly make out the face of the sitting Liberty on the front.
Also, judging by the sheen of the coin alone, it looks to be cupronickel, which is that nickel-clad copper that I was talking about, and not silver. So it probably ain't even a real US coin. Possibly it could be some kind of medallion that broke off and you just found it somewhere or it might be part of someone's jewelry or some other type of ornament.
I initially thought it might be a "love token" as well. But after a brief bit of research I'm not so sure anymore. The pattern on the back just doesn't match known examples.
1883 US Victorian Seated Liberty Dime Love Token Coin Charm - www.goantiques.com/detail,1883-victorian-seated,2119219.html
Looks to be in really good shape though. :)
1883 US Victorian Seated Liberty Dime Love Token Coin Charm - www.goantiques.com/detail,1883-victorian-seated,2119219.html
Looks to be in really good shape though. :)
http://wcsdeals.com/images/Love%20T.....-199/LT174.jpg Looks almost exactly the same. aside from 1 different letter.
Your right, I didn't see that one. And BTW thanks a lot for the link to the article, it was a very interesting read. I have a mild interest in old coins (and old things in general), but it is not my area of expertise. I had heard of doing the initials before, but I originally thought the "C" was more of a horseshoe shape for good luck.
The C in a lot of the examples is very similar, but I can't find any T or R's that match. And who does this kind of work and for how long did they do it? Because I've never seen, or even heard, of anything like this. And if it is a love token, why isn't it like a pin or a necklace or something that may be easily displayed. Either way, it's beautiful beyond imagination and I'm glad that somebody picked it up. The only question that I truly want answered is that who was this 'R.T.C'? Were they in my family or did someone in my family buy this from an antiques dealership or a jewelry store? I just don't know and there's nobody around to ask.
http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article2003.chtml "Love tokens were typically made from Seated Liberty dimes..."
Not exactly a scholarly source, but there isn't much information on them other than they're just regular coins that people defaced to show their affection for someone.
Not exactly a scholarly source, but there isn't much information on them other than they're just regular coins that people defaced to show their affection for someone.
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