A couple promising to marry would break a piece of gold or silver between them, the woman keeping one half and the man the other. Hone quotes Gay’s What d’ye call it and Dogget’s comedy The Country Wake, where Hob says he asked Mary last Lammas and they broke a piece of money at Allhallowtide. Douce compared it with the exchange of rings.
Breaking a Piece of Money
Printed under 8 September
No longer kept
It was anciently customary to break a piece of gold or silver in token of a verbal contract of marriage and promises of love
From Hone's Year Book, cols. 1050-1051. Read the original
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