E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Commendation Ninepence.
A bent silver ninepence, supposed to be lucky, and commonly used in the seventeenth century as a love-token, the giver or sender using these words, “From my love, to my love.” Sometimes the coin was broken, and each kept a part.
1
“Like commendation ninepence, crooked,
With ‘To and from my love,’ it looked.”
Butler: Hudibras, i. 1.
“Filbert: As this divides, thus are we torn in twain.
Kitty: And as this meets, thus may we meet again.”
