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COIN
Unique ID: FAKL-E2B848
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Silver coin bent to form a 'love token'. It has been smoothed leaving no trace of the impressed design but the module would be appropriate for a sixpence of late seventeenth to early nineteen century date, although most 'love tokens' were made from coins dating from the late seventeenth to early eighteenth century. The coin is bent at 45 degrees in two places the folds being at opposed; one up, the other down. Diameter 19.9mm, Mass 1.64g
Notes:
The object is one of five 'love tokens' found on this field. Love tokens are not uncommon finds but their significance is not understood. While 'love tokens' should be inscribed with the name of the person loved most of these defaced coins are uninscribed. Bending coins as part of an oath is an ancient practice but did not involve them being defaced. These coins may have been carried as good-luck charms but few of them are perforated for suspension, the usual way of wearing a charm. The writer has seen an account of silver coins being added to a churn to aid the forming of butter but has been unable to verify this. Certainly, the double fold would prevent it from sticking to the side of the churn. These objects should be seen as an unexplained folk practice dating to the late seventeen and early eighteenth centuries.
Class: Love token
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1660
Date to: Circa AD 1714
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Weight: 1.64 g
Diameter: 19.9 mm
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: ELL 405
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Completeness: Complete
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: Sixpence
Category: Modern
Obverse description: This coin has been defaced for use as a 'love token' and both faces have been smoothed.
Coin references
No coin references available.
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: East Riding of Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
District: East Riding of Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Elloughton
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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