NNP

Love Token.  A coin which has been smoothed off (defaced) and the initials of a sweetheart, wife or loved one engraved thereon. The smoothing is done by grinding or face milling on one or both sides. In some instances the border is left intact and the engraving is done on the flat smoothed surface inside the raised border. The engraving is flat engraving usually of fairly high quality with ornate lettering and flourishes. After they were engraved and given to the recipient, they were worn as charms or pins. Thus love tokens, which are also called engraved coins, are a topical collecting specialty within the category of numismatic jewelry.

Reference:                                                                                                                                  

NE42 {1982} Doty, p 200.             

excerpted with permission from

An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

Roger W. Burdette, Editor