Love Token - William Maskell, England, Great Britain, 1818

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This item is on display at Melbourne Museum

Summary:: Love Token from William Maskell to his sister dated 1818.

Love tokens were often commissioned by convicts before they were transported to Australia, as a memento for their loved ones. Itinerant engravers visited the prisons and hulks, finding a ready market for these tokens, which were made to order from smoothed-down coins.

Love tokens are evidence of the British Government’s attitude to law and order and treatment of indentured labourers in a strict Government ‘Assignment System’ which provided cheap labour for the expanding British empire during the 1700s and 1800s.

About one third of migrants who came to Australia between 1830 and 1850 paid their own way. Convicts and settlers who came to Australia found that in comparison to Europe, conditions were very good and with hard work and determination they could prosper.
Description:: A love token engraved on the reverse of a 1797 British penny (36 mm). The obverse features a laureate bust of the King facing right; around incuse on broad rim, GEORGIVS III D.G. REX. The reverse of the penny been removed and engraved, above a heart pierced by two arrows, Dear Sister / May love and / Friendship / Never be forgot / William Maskell; the heart divides the date 1818. The edge is plain.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	36 mm (Diameter)

Tagged with:	families, immigration, immigrant voyages, settlement, convicts, travel, love tokens
Themes this item is part of:	Numismatics & Philately Collection
On Display at:	Melbourne Museum
Primary Classification:	TOKENS
Secondary Classification:	Great Britain - England
Tertiary Classification:	love tokens
DateEra:	1818 AD
Obverse Description:	A laureate bust of the King facing right; around incuse on broad rim, GEORGIVS III D.G. REX.
Reverse Description:	The reverse of the penny been removed and engraved, above a heart pierced by two arrows, Dear Sister / May love and / Friendship / Never be forgot / William Maskell; the heart divides the date 1818
Edge Description:	The edge is plain
Inscriptions:	GEORGIVS III D.G. REX Dear Sister May love and Friendship Never be forgot William Maskell 1818
Shape:	Round
Material:	Copper
Issued By:	England, Great Britain, 1979
Place & Date Inscribed:	England, Great Britain, 1818