This 1882 dime was hand engraved into a pictorial love token in the late 19th century. By chance, I recognized the ruins shown on it as The Newport Tower in Rhode Island. The Tower is an interesting and somewhat mysterious landmark. Modern research has shown it to be the ruins of a circa-1680 windmill, but people used to speculate that it was much older (i.e., pre-Colombian, possibly Norse). This coin, given its jewelry mounting, skilled engraving, and faithful representation of the Tower, was possibly a Victorian tourist souvenir. The Tower, circa 1894, contemporary to the engraving on the coin. The Tower, as it appears in modern times.
That is totally cool….. I have seen that tower one one of the many explorer type programs I watched sometime in the past.
