Victorian Silver Love Token Collar Necklace

A rare Victorian love token necklace, crafted of 22 individually engraved coins, a combination of American seated liberty sterling silver quarters and dimes with dates ranging from 1841 to 1877. Likely the initials all belonged to members of the same family, as was often the case with pieces made from multiple tokens.

Considering the purchasing power of this many coins in the mid-19th century, this was a fairly extravagant memento. A pair of shoes cost .98 in 1878, a loaf of bread just .21, and the average fireman earned 1.48 a day.

Details: With a necklace length of approximately 14" and a drop from the center front coin of 2 1/2". Not marked for metal content but dimes of this era were sterling silver.

Condition: In excellent condition with a light antique patina. The original engraved box clasp is in strong working order.

History: Love token coins have been around since roughly the 17th century. Carved on coins of varying denominations they were a fairly inexpensive way to express sentiment and regard as coins were for the most part readily available and of a size to transform easily into a wearable keepsake. Usually engraved with initials and dates, but sometimes allegorical or decorative images and sentimental mottos, they might also be embellished with enamel and gemstones or cut into unusual shapes.

Often on sterling silver liberty seated dimes and with only one side engraved, leaving the other with the original minted image, which is quite helpful when circa dating. During the American Civil War they became an enormously popular memento for departing soldiers to give to girlfriends, wives, sisters, and mothers. This popularity lasted until the end of the 19th century, though some can be found with dates reaching into the early 1910s.