A Coin with a WWII Story to tell!

I stopped in an antique shop and picked up a hand full of foreign coins for a $1. I noticed this Australian 1 Florin 1944 that had been engraved turning it into a love token, but didn't give much thought to it until walking home and reading the inscription, " To Marion / with love / from Bill / New Guinea / 1944 " pin punched in very detailed cursive on what was the obverse of the coin. I came to realize this was a WWII Rare Find. My guess is that a U.S. Soldier, stationed in New Guinea made this token and sent it to his sweet heart. I later researched that my guess was correct and that alot of fighting took place at New Guinea between the U.S. and Australian Alies Vs. The Japanese, there were thousands of casaulties on both sides in this hot spot of the war. This Love Token/ Silver Florin was an Awesome find for a $1 USD.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I had to use a digital cam for the obverse, because the mirrored back ground reflected to much of the scanner light and would wash out the inscription.

 

I had many deep thoughts of this coin all the rest of the day, such as how Marion must of felt opening this gift her sweet heart sent her from a distant land, filled with the love of his inscription and how strange and unique the reverse must have been to look upon.
I had thoughts of did Bill make it back to Marion and Marry her, or did he not come back from the war. Did they pass away without children in old age for this item to end up in an antique shop and many more thoughts.

I also contacted a Love Token forum and they informed me that these love tokens were somewhat common during WWII, But most people had them engraved by a skilled person, than informed me that the fact that this soldier hand pinpunched the inscription actually increases it's rarity and value!

 

A unique time piece. Makes one wonder how it wound up in an antique store and not among a loved ones treasures....

 

I did sadly ponder these thoughts and even tried to look up marriages from that town with those first names from about that time. but sadly the Love Token alone does not offer me enouph information to find a person for this wonderful inheritance.

 

Wow, that's quite a memento to come across. The fighting on New Guinea was hellish, many soldiers were killed by falling trees in the vast jungle, and Japanese snipers were everywhere. William Manchester described the battle there in his book "Goodbye Darkness," a must-read if you are interested in WWII in the Pacific.

 

A wonderful yet at the same time sad reminder of some very dark days. I do hope that he survived to be reunited with Marion and she did not recieve the florin in his effects.

 

Interesting story!

 

An interesting find and probably even a more interesting story if we knew the rest of it.

 

Adults from this period will be either very old or passed on.This is what happens to personal effects when there is nobody left to care anymore.
It might sound harsh but is true.

 

thats awsome

 

At first, since I collect coins and not love tokens, I thought of how this might be a profitable purchase for resale. As a coin it is worthless, as bullion I priced it at just over $4 USD, as a "Love Token" I received a quote of about $25 USD, and didn't really explore the area that I felt the most monetary value comes from as a WWII memorabilia. No matter what, I have gained in this venture, with only a $1 USD purchase of the hand full of world coins I purchased that day. I believe that it has been a greater value to own this item and be able to look at it for what it really is, which is an act of love from during a time of war. So, I have decided to get a coin bezel and chain and give it to my wife ( I believe a gift of love, should only be used again in that same sense to honor its original purpose. )

 

If nothing else it is a purchase that made you think about life and get your brain going.

Interesting purchase, thanks for sharing.

 

I couldn't disagree more! I don't consider anyone "old" unless they are at least 10 years older than I am, and chances are very good that neither Bill nor Marion are in that category. Contrary to what some folks think, 30-years-old is not a synonym for decrepit.

 

Ok , lets assume Bill and Marion were 18 in 1944 , that makes them how old exactly today?

 

Great story! Kinda makes you feel insignificant though.

 

82, which is middle-aged my young friend.

 

My father was 18 in '41. Army. He's gone....

 

Hahaha ok , im alright with that.More power to ya Sorry to hear about your Dad green18 , i lost mine too 6 years ago.Not everybody sees the kind of numbers we were talking , 80's and such sadly.

 

Well, I always say "If coins could talk OH!!!!!!!!!!!!the stories". I got four Newspapers from Minneapolis, Minnesota dated 1926 from an antique shop in Austin, Texas. The same year my mother was born.