10 Unique Tokens of Affection from the Past

On February 14th, many of us would be delighted to receive a Valentine’s Day card or a bouquet of red roses. Cards, flowers, and sweets have become timeless symbols of love, but the tokens of affection exchanged in the past were far more unconventional. For instance, a Victorian woman might have been gifted an acrostic ring adorned with gemstones spelling DEAREST (diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz). Who wouldn't cherish one of these? 

As you delve deeper into history, the love tokens only get more intriguing. Here are just a few examples. 

Lovers' Eyes 

In modern times, if your lover is far away, a video call might be the solution. But in the 18th century, lovers had to make do with the technology of their era. Admirers would commission a miniaturist to create a tiny, intricate portrait of an eye to send to their beloved. This tradition is said to have begun in the late 18th century with the future King George IV, who wanted to send a discreet token of affection to his mistress, Maria Fitzherbert. The idea was that only a true lover could recognize someone through their eyes alone. Before long, lovers’ eyes became popular as tokens of love, appearing on snuff boxes, rings, and early Valentine’s cards.

Jewelry Made from Hair

Along with gifting lover’s eyes, George IV is said to have collected pubic hair from his numerous mistresses. While most 19th-century Britons rejected this particular interest, many did create jewelry and art from the hair of their loved ones. In rural areas, simple bracelets made of braided hair were exchanged between lovers, while the upper class crafted more elaborate rings and pendants with intricate designs. Those wishing to start a hair art business could consult pattern books, while the truly creative could fashion delicate lace mementos for their loved ones to wear.

Bent Coins

If you find yourself mudlarking in London, one of the most frequent types of relics you'll uncover along the riverbanks are coins bent into an S-shape, many of which are displayed in an upcoming exhibition of mudlarking discoveries at the London Museum. These coins were either twisted or defaced in some manner; for example, a suitor might etch their initials onto a coin (possibly to prevent the recipient from spending it if their love waned). Today, it's probably not advisable to use bent coins as love tokens, as damaging coins is now illegal in the UK.

Posy Rings 

Posy rings, another type of love token often found in the Thames, are pieces of jewelry dating back to the 14th century and beyond. These rings carry hidden messages engraved on the inside, known only to the recipient. The London Museum's collection features early examples in Norman French, Latin, and English. Exteriors are often richly adorned with botanical or religious motifs, while the interior messages include phrases like mon cor avez (“have my heart”) or nul autre (“none other”). Some are simpler, like a plain band inscribed with continu constant on the inside.

Broken Pottery

In the ancient world, writing materials were costly, yet Greeks and Romans of all social strata found ways to leave graffiti and erotic messages wherever possible. The walls of Pompeii are filled with bawdy scribbles, while some Latin writers carved more affectionate notes onto fragments of broken pottery as love tokens. One such piece, an Italian red ware fragment discovered in Leicester, England, bore the inscription Verecunda ludia Lucius gladiator (“Verecunda the dancer, Lucius the gladiator”), with a hole drilled through it, indicating it was likely worn as a necklace. It remains unclear whether this was a gift to or from Verecunda. 

Love Spoons

Cutlery might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a Valentine’s gift, but in Wales, spoons were once the ultimate expression of love. Since at least the 17th century, men have carved wooden spoons adorned with love motifs to gift to their partners. Over time, the symbols on the spoons evolved from simple hearts on the handles to intricate designs and characters, each with specific meanings. For instance, a ball encased in a cage symbolized love being securely held, while a fully linked chain represented everlasting love. The more elaborate the spoon, the stronger the love it conveyed.

Puzzle Purses

Before purchasing a Valentine’s Day card was an option, people had to get creative and craft their own paper tokens. These love notes, known as puzzle purses, were made from intricately folded sheets of paper, richly decorated with flowers and symbols of love. To reveal the hidden messages, one had to carefully unfold the paper in a particular order without tearing it. The decorations themselves could carry secret meanings using floriography, the language of flowers. For instance, a red carnation symbolized ‘alas for my poor heart,’ perfect for those wanting to express dramatic emotions.

Convict Pennies 

In the 18th century, Great Britain’s solution for criminals was ‘transportation,’ which meant sending them to far-off colonies across the world. For those convicted, there was little opportunity to bid farewell to loved ones, so they made love tokens from flattened penny coins, inscribed with words and images to remind those left behind. These tokens, often called “leaden hearts” or “Newgate tokens” (named after the infamous British prison), carried messages that still resonate today. One such token reads, ‘When on this peice {sic} you cast an eye, think on the man that is not nigh.’

Animal Horns and Teeth

In the 18th and 19th centuries, suitors would often craft love tokens from whatever materials were available. One such piece, a cow horn intricately carved with patterns, is held by the National Museum of Wales and was likely used as a love offering, possibly by a farmer or butcher.

Sailors on long whaling voyages, separated from their wives and sweethearts for months or even years, passed the time by creating scrimshaw—the art of etching designs onto bone and teeth. These tokens were often crafted from whale bone, baleen, walrus tusks, and sperm whale teeth, featuring portraits of loved ones, ships, and patriotic symbols. Some artisans even carved everyday objects such as yarn winders, pie crimpers, combs, and sewing needles as gifts. Due to conservation concerns, the use of animal parts as romantic gifts, particularly from endangered species, has significantly declined in recent years.

Stay Busks

The whaling industry played a crucial role in the rise of stays and corsets in 18th-century women's fashion. These undergarments used stiff boning, often made from baleen found in the mouths of certain whale species, to tightly constrict the torso. A busk, a length of whale bone, wood, or metal, was inserted into the front of the stays, extending from between the breasts to the hips. The busk provided an ideal surface for a suitor to carve love notes, initials, wedding dates, or images. While many featured simple hearts and geometric designs, some were more intricate and explicit. One particularly risqué example, said to have belonged to a noble French lady, was engraved with the following:

“How I envy you the happiness that is yours, resting softly on her ivory white breast. Let us divide between us, if you please, this glory. You will be here the day and I shall be there the night.”