18th century AD. A group of silver coin love tokens, formed from worn sixpences and shillings of the William III to Georgian period, most twice bent in the traditional form, some with punched initials or marks; one from a George III copper halfpenny dated 1775. 56 grams total, 19-28mm. (3/4 - 1"). The traditional rhyme 'There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile; he found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile; he bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse; and they all lived together in a little crooked house' refers to a 'crooked sixpence'; the giving of such a token by a young man to his girl was common in the 18th century period. It was said that if the girl accepted the love of the young man, she kept the token; if not she threw it away. [23, No Reserve]

Fine condition.