Introduction: Penny Love Token
Dating as far back to 1740, small coins have been twisted to make love tokens.
I have been married 8 times, 7 times when I was 5 years old (I really liked candy) and now with my current wife. Even though I never got divorced from my previous 7 marriages; my wife still wanted me. So to make her my Valentine every year - I try and make her different things - like a love token.
I wanted to share my version of a Penny Love Token.
My wife keeps them in her coin purse.
Please note: I am not a lawyer, I looked up years ago and everything I read said it was ok to bend a coin. When I was at Disney land; I used a penny smasher or press to make a souvenir.
So all I can say is -do what you feel comfortable with.
Step 1: Gather Items and Tools
Penny Coins
It is said that if you get older than 1981 coins, they will have a greater amount of copper in them. Just to be safe I use 1980 or older pennies. The older copper pennies bend in this process.
Newer pennies will just break in my bending process.
Tools
I use a small metal bench vise with smooth faced jaws – without serrated jaws.
A non-marring hammer
Optional
Buffer or cleaner
Step 2: Think in Thirds
I put approximately 1/3 of the coin in the vise and tighten
I strike the coin over with the hammer.
I flip the coin over and put approximately 1/3 of the coin in the vise and tighten.
I strike the coin with the hammer over in the opposite direction of the previous side.
What I have seen of traditional love coins
– I would describe as a wave or Z pattern
– one side bent in one direction and the other in the opposite.
Step 3: Finished and Options
This my version of love coins
Optional bends
I bend them in different directions - see photos.
The one completely folded into a ring, could be put on a string for a necklace or key-chain.
Optional appearance
You can clean or polish if you wish
My wife keeps them in her coin purse.