Tokens of affection

I know it's a little too late to be Valentine's Day shopping online, but I couldn't resist sharing these Victorian love tokens from my eBay watch list. Love tokens comprise a pretty wide and delightful field of materials and intentions, but the ones I'm most smitten with are lovers' pieces made from coins of the day.

Back in the day, if you were crushing on some lucky lad or lass, you could have someone file down one face of, say, a shilling or a silver dime, then hand-engrave you or your loved one's initials or name, embellished with all kinds of lovely curlicues and arabesques. If you were feeling extra fancy, you could have the reverse smoothed and engraved as well.

You can click on any of the images below to go to their original listings, which are all active as of press time this Sunday afternoon:

I'll be honest... I'm really having a hard time resisting
this Mieze (German for "kitty") charm. I have itchy, itchy bidding fingers.

Men wore their tokens on watch fobs, as cuff links, as lapel pins, etc.; women could have theirs fashioned as necklaces, pins, and bracelets, or just keep a token in their purses as a small, shiny reminder that someone, somewhere, was sighing over them.

I solemnly swear that I have no designs on any of these, so if they match your name or that of your sweetie's, they are, at least, safe from me. But I'd still say bid fast if you want 'em!