A Crooked Sixpence

[robfinds]

Heres tonights finds from the pasture field. Had a William 111 silver sixpence 1696 it's been bent to make it a love token. Also had a Tudor bronze dress fastener,a musket ball and a early lead bullet.

HH Robert.

 

[Detectingfreak]

thats pretty cool! How can you guys always tell what year they are?

 

[robfinds]

thats pretty cool! How can you guys always tell what year they are?

Hello , look at 12 o'clock on the reverse side of the coin,you can just see the date well at least 16. 96 is on the other side of the bend.

 

[romeo-1]

I cen see the numbers ...look closer...nice find BTW!

 

[CRUSADER]

Unusual to have so much detail on a love token!

At this time of year, I would call this a good nights haul!

 

[robfinds]

Unusual to have so much detail on a love token!

At this time of year, I would call this a good nights haul!

Silver coins from that period of English history tend to show lots of wear, non more so than the humble sixpence. Englands constant state of war was expensive and silver was scarce. Once every blue moon though you can find a nice William 111 sixpence.

 

[allen]

great looking finds...

 

[ivan salis]

why the bending -- what about bending it made it a love token? the fact is could not be spent if bent? just wondering

 

[robfinds]

why the bending -- what about bending it made it a love token? the fact is could not be spent if bent? just wondering

To the average person in those days sixpence would not be a small amount. Perhaps bending the coin before giving it to your loved one showed that you valued them above money. After all "money can't buy you love" or so the saying goes.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice silver! I also found one in Colchester bent into a love token, also 1696. HH, Mike

 

[CRUSADER]

why the bending -- what about bending it made it a love token? the fact is could not be spent if bent? just wondering

To the average person in those days sixpence would not be a small amount. Perhaps bending the coin before giving it to your loved one showed that you valued them above money. After all "money can't buy you love" or so the saying goes.

I was also lead to believe the bent coin was tossed aside in one of their favourite 'love spots'. Never to be found again! (same thinking behind it, ie. 'I give up my silver above your love')

 

[robfinds]

why the bending -- what about bending it made it a love token? the fact is could not be spent if bent? just wondering

To the average person in those days sixpence would not be a small amount. Perhaps bending the coin before giving it to your loved one showed that you valued them above money. After all "money can't buy you love" or so the saying goes.

I was also lead to believe the bent coin was tossed aside in one of their favourite 'love spots'. Never to be found again! (same thinking behind it, ie. 'I give up my silver above your love')

This all getting very romantic. Found two more hiding in a box in the garage this aft. Perhaps the guy who made the one from a copper halfpenny was a bit more pragmatic !

 

[CRUSADER]

why the bending -- what about bending it made it a love token? the fact is could not be spent if bent? just wondering

To the average person in those days sixpence would not be a small amount. Perhaps bending the coin before giving it to your loved one showed that you valued them above money. After all "money can't buy you love" or so the saying goes.

I was also lead to believe the bent coin was tossed aside in one of their favourite 'love spots'. Never to be found again! (same thinking behind it, ie. 'I give up my silver above your love')

This all getting very romantic. Found two more hiding in a box in the garage this aft. Perhaps the guy who made the one from a copper halfpenny was a bit more pragmatic !

Yeah, had a few copper versions - for the poor

 

[Lee43]

I got a SixPence Love Token on my trip over last march, it was dated 1692, still have not got everything from there hoping things will show up around the first of July. I did not get any treasures so I should get everything I dug. By the way.....Congrats on a Great Find. Had a wonderful time, going back next March.............................Lee

 

[robfinds]

I got a SixPence Love Token on my trip over last march, it was dated 1692, still have not got everything from there hoping things will show up around the first of July. I did not get any treasures so I should get everything I dug. By the way.....Congrats on a Great Find. Had a wonderful time, going back next March.............................Lee

Have a good time in England Lee, hope you find plenty !.

 

[John Winter]

There’s been an update to my blog post on Love Tokens from John Mills … I think you should take a look.

Search Results For love tokens | 2 Results | John Winter

 

[park pirate]

Nice old find...

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I found 2 sixpences bent at a 90 deg angle as part of the first scattered cache of hammered coins I dug a few years ago. I've heard many theories as to what these were, but a love token seems to be the most likely possibility. Cool find!

 

[treblehunter]

Cool finds, good work!

 

[CRUSADER]

I found 2 sixpences bent at a 90 deg angle as part of the first scattered cache of hammered coins I dug a few years ago. I've heard many theories as to what these were, but a love token seems to be the most likely possibility. Cool find!

View attachment 1088307

That doesn't follow the English traditional love token. Its got to be bent twice in 2 different directions. (although being early examples, maybe it developed from this)

I think it more likely the bent ones down the middle to check for silver clad copper fakes.