How do you put a value on a Love Token?

Lets say you find a love token carved on a relatively good condition 1885 dime. The engraving looks pretty good as well.

What value would you put on this? I know @lordmarcovan is kind of an expert here:

 

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What price can you put on love? It's amazing how they beautifully carved the edge too on the reverse - and that dime obverse is sharp.

[Edit] Prices (sold) are all over the map on eBay for similar pieces, from $6 to $60 that I saw, though I'm not sure any of those are as nice as this one.

 

For gold i would say a little over melt small silver is hard but I would say whatever someone is willing to pay for it in auction e.t.c

 

What the devil does he know? He's from Georgia........

Love knows no bounds or extremities. It's the love of the token that matters......

 

Love means never having to say you're sorry.

 

Nice handiwork, but unless Kittie is lovivg you back, it is all for naught. Does Kittie have a sister?

 

I usually see dime-sized love tokens retail for about $10 regardless of the coin type and the quality of the artwork. I believe there are love token collecting communities where you might get a better idea as to which types command a premium over melt. I know certain types (such as pictures of ships or buildings) have their own enthusiasts and can command a premium if you find the right buyer. Love tokens are art, and unique, but being of relatively low value, it's not worth the time for a typical coin dealer to try and find a specialized collector to get a few dollars more.

My love token collection. The 1711 Queen Anne shilling is one of my favorite coins of any kind, even though it's engraved. I have no idea how to even estimate a fair value for it. It was cheap at the time, 24 years ago.

 

Welcome back to the fold.

 

Some artistry on old love tokens will bring over $200.
Of course gold is spot plus art

 

Could have belonged to Kittie on Gunsmoke! j/k

 

It's hard to come up with rules for this that would give you a precise number. There are factors to consider:

· How well is the engraving done?

· Is it attractive?

· Is it interesting and unique, like the owl on one of the pieces shown above.

· How well is it preserved?

· Is it intact i.e. still a part of a “family bracelet” for example.

· Most love tokens were executed on dimes. Other denominations are more unusual and worth more if the points made above apply.

 

Hate to be a party pooper, but Kittie and her sister probably died in the 1940's

 

That's a beautifully engraved coin. How was that done back then. Would you go to a jewelry shop that specialized in engraving ? Back in that era Pocket watches also were custom engraved with beautiful scroll work.

 

If your pet name for the gf/wf is Kitty/Kittie I’m sure a $100 bid would be had. I’d list on CL for in Jewelry for $220 obo meet at Police station

 

Wow I like this one. I've only seen one or two others as ornate as this. I don't think they go very high in auction even though they are nice. If you wanted to sell, throw a high number on it with make offer. In the end it's whatever someone will pay.

 

I think from the numismatic perspective, we can only view them as damaged goods. I did find a large cent in my dealers junk bin one day with a perfectly smoothed reverse. My heart sunk thinking of a love token that was to be and never was finished. So I purchased the cent and carried it to a firearm engraver who turned it into a love token for my wife using period correct script. I had exactly $65.00 invested in the piece that is now a permanent fixture in my wife’s pocketbook. And to me that makes it invaluable!

 

Firearm engraver, I'm sure someone with those skills could smooth the surface of any coin and custom engrave it. Was $65. the cost of engraving your large cent ?

 

Five dollars for the damaged large cent. The fellow engraved it for fifty but I gave him sixty because he did such a great job.

This is his work.