The Coin — Summary

Sara TeasdaleContemplative

Into my heart's treasury I slipped a coin That time cannot take Nor a thief purloin,-- Oh better than the minting Of a gold-crowned king Is the safe-kept memory Of a lovely thing.

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The speaker compares a cherished memory to a coin slipped into a private treasury inside the heart. Unlike real money, this coin cannot be taken by time or stolen by a thief. It remains completely her own. She says this inner treasure is worth more than any coin stamped by a king, because it preserves something lovely in a lasting way. The mood is quiet, tender, and gently proud. There is deep satisfaction in knowing that no outside force can take away what she has stored within herself. Memory becomes a form of wealth—not the kind that can be spent or lost, but one that stays safe and grows more precious over time. The tone feels intimate, like a private thought shared in confidence.

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