Maidstone Museum
Title
Maidstone Museum
Description
A collection of one hundred and eighty eight eighteenth/early nineteenth century love tokens from Maidstone Museum, Kent, England. Made from rubbed smooth copper and silver coins, they have been engraved or punched with images, names and idioms. Illustrations of people and places, symbols of love, plenty and remembrance, this rich resource depicts the emotional life of the labouring sorts from over two hundred years ago.
Contributor
Rev. R.W.H. Acworth
Collection Items
Love Token - Kneeling convict
Image of a copper coin rubbed smooth and pin-pricked with initials and outline of a man. Side one: image of chained and kneeling man with foliage in the style of the Wedgewood slave medallion. Side two: initials "J.P.", appears unfinished.
Love token - George Shelley
Image of a copper coin rubbed down and engraved with names and outline of a ship. Side one: "Forget me note" above image of three masted ship. Side two: "George Shelley to Ann Shelley." Both sides decorated with flourishes. Script style lettering,…
Love Token - George Shelley bound to slavery
Image of a copper coin rubbed smooth and engraved with names and outline of a prison hulk. Side one: inscribed with idiom "When this you see Remember me When I am bound To Slavery" above image of a prison hulk, highlighted in white. Side two: "George…
Love token - John Lisk and Elisabeth Hobbs
Image of a copper coin rubbed smooth and engraved with names and a wheatsheaf. Side one: "John Lisk Elisabeth Hobbs" with decorative border. Side two: image of a wheatsheaf, symbol of peace and plenty, highlighted in white. All in Roman Block style…
Love token - Betrothal
Image of a copper coin rubbed smooth and engraved with initials and promise of wedlock. Side one: inscribed with idiom "J Suear by chaste Diana I will be in sacred wedlock ever join'd to thee." Side two: initials "I.B." Roman Block style lettering on…
Love token - Initials G.C.& T.C.H.
Image of a William III silver half crown rubbed smooth and engraved with two sets of initials. Side one: initials "G.C"
Side two: initials "T.C.H."
Side two: initials "T.C.H."
Love token - The further we fly the faster we tye
Image of a silver coin rubbed smooth and engraved with birds, hearts and a lover's knot. Side one: initials "E.P.", two birds, two overlapping hearts. Side two: initials "I.P." and the idiom "The further we fly the faster we tye" around image of two…
Love token - Betty Cross
Image of a silver coin rubbed smooth and engraved with name. Side one: engraved with "Betty Cross" (spelt "Crofs", as "f" in the eighteenth century indicated a long "s"), in Roman cursive style lettering. Side two: as minted - head of William III.
Love token - My heart is fixt
Image of a copper coin rubbed smooth and engraved with hearts and idiom. Side one: two overlapping, bleeding and flaming hearts pierced diagonally by two arrows. "Elizabeth Phipps" above and date "1781" below. Side two: "My heart is fixt I cannot…
Love token - Hawick
Image of a copper coin rubbed smooth and engraved with initials and location name. Side one: initials with two overlapping hearts and the word "Amity" above, and "Hawick" - a Scottish town - below. Side two: As normal, H. Harrison trade token, St.…