I had never heard of love tokens until I started making jewelry professionally a little over a year ago.
The first love tokens I saw were on Sandy's site, and I fell in love with them and started using them in my jewelry. Sandy is a UK-based charm dealer, one who consistently has the most interesting, well-made vintage charms.
Love tokens were made from silver coins, and they were a popular gift in both the United States and England during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The fashion ended--with legislation--in the United States in the early 1900s when laws were passed to prohibit the defacing of coins. I don't know if the same thing happened in England, I guess I'd better ask Sandy about that.
To make a love token, one surface of the coin was filed smooth, and a name or initials and sometimes a date were engraved on the coin. It was the giver's name that was added to the coin, not the recipient's. Some love tokens were homemade, but jewelers would engrave them to order as well.
Women wore love tokens on necklaces and bracelets, and men wore them as fobs on their watch chains. One popular bracelet style was a bangle with links to attach a dozen or more love tokens.
Most of the English love tokens that I've had were 3-pence coins, a thin silver coin with a portrait of Queen Victoria. Now, Victoria reigned for decades, and it's fun to watch how she aged--and got plumper--by the decade as new coins were minted with updated portraits.
I want to start a new fashion here. I think every woman needs a love token necklace as a staple of her jewelry wardrobe.
I just made one for myself the other day, and I really love it. It's similar to the one in the photo, although mine has amethyst beads and a light purple crystal on it, rather than the bronze crystal on the necklace in the photos.
I wear it alone, or with another shorter necklace.
Here's the best part: The love token came engraved with my name. Sandy had it for sale, and offered it to me.
I've used old Japanese coins in my jewelry as well. See:
Asian Influences
Jade and Japanese Charms
I bought those coins several years ago from a coin dealer in Tokyo. I wasn't making jewelry then, so I bought them just to have. A little piece of history.
I haven't been able to find a good source for old Asian coins either locally or online, but I plan to search for both Japanese and Chinese coins when I go to Hawaii at the end of the month. I think the coin and antique dealers there should have some. There is a Hong Kong coin from the late 1800s that was minted in England that I would like to find.
I also have a bracelet made with 1940s Australian coins. This one is considered "sweetheart jewelry." It also is considered "trench art," which is what soldiers made when they were sitting around in the trenches waiting for the war to start.
See: Trench Art Bracelet
Oh, the love token necklace is for sale. The price is $100.