ALLYS GRONOW, LOVE TOKENS
What I collect: The history of the love token began in Britain in the 13th century, when old coins were bent and folded as a sign of a promise. Moving into the late 17th century, coins – smoothed flat on one or both sides – began to be engraved to reflect significant occasions such as birth, marriage and death. Hand-engraved with names, dates, pictorial scenes, symbols, initials or a sentimental message, they soon became a common token of love to be worn or kept safe as a memento. The pieces in my collection date from 1800-1920.
Why I collect: I adore sentimental jewellery and, to some degree, a love token is a simple and affordable version of this. I’m fascinated by the sentiment behind each piece: was it gifted to a loved one, was it to celebrate something, or perhaps it was a kind gesture towards someone in mourning? I love how each piece marks a deeply personal moment in time.
How I collect: Since creating my antiques business No.4 Vintage (no4vintage.com), I have made contacts all around the world and some pieces in my collection are purchased from them. Others are found at antiques fairs in the UK. It’s hard to keep track of exactly how many love tokens I have but it’s in the region of 400. Pieces can be picked up from £10-£200 depending on the kind of coin it is and the intricacy of the hand-engraving.