Nothing Says 'I Love You' Like a Bit of Pocket Change

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Collectors Weekly’s Lisa Hix describes a romantic fad of yesteryear—the exchange of talismans designed to remind their owners of their love. Hix explains that couples have always given each other loving gifts, including things like thimbles, spoons and even rolling pins. But in the 1800s, the desire for romantic memorabilia collided with new carving and engraving techniques that allowed people to customize coins with personalized designs.
Throw in a dash of longing (for a loved one who was shipped off to a penal colony or sent off to war) and a sentimental trend was born.