Joshua Bennett
Leaving coins on gravestones is a tradition that holds different meanings for various cultures worldwide. In the United States, this custom is primarily associated with honouring deceased military veterans, with each type of coin conveying a specific message about the visitor's relationship to the fallen soldier. While this practice is not unique to Catholicism, it is worth exploring if Catholics observe this tradition and what significance it holds for them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Leaving coins on graves is a tradition that has been practiced by various groups in South America, Europe, and Asia. In the U.S., the tradition is mainly associated with military culture and honoring veterans. |
| Meaning | Coins on a headstone signify that someone has visited the grave and paid their respects. Different denominations of coins can hold specific meanings. For example, a penny may signify a visit and gratitude for service, while a nickel indicates training with the deceased at boot camp. |
| Practicality | In some cultures, coins are left on graves as a more practical and economical alternative to flowers or other decorations, especially if regular visits to the gravesite are not possible. |
| Superstition | In ancient times, coins were left for the departed to ensure safe passage to the afterlife. Today, coins may also be left to bring good luck to the deceased. |
| Fundraising | The coins left on graves are sometimes collected by cemeteries and used for upkeep or to help pay for the burial costs of other veterans. |
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What You'll Learn
Leaving coins is a sign of respect and remembrance
Leaving coins on a headstone is a way to honour and remember the deceased. This tradition has been practised by various groups in South America, Europe, and Asia, and is also common in the United States, especially at the grave sites of military servicemen and women.
The practice of leaving coins has its roots in ancient times, when coins were believed to prepare the departed for the afterlife and ensure their safe passage to the world of the dead. Over the years, the meaning has evolved, and today, leaving coins is a way to show respect and remembrance for the deceased. In the U.S., this tradition is particularly associated with honouring veterans who have passed away.
Each type of coin can hold a different meaning. For example, leaving a penny on a veteran's grave is a way to thank them for their service. A nickel indicates that the visitor trained with the deceased at boot camp, while a dime shows that they served together. A quarter signifies that the visitor was with the veteran when they passed away. The number of coins can also be significant, marking the number of times someone has visited the grave.
The tradition of leaving coins is not limited to military graves. In general, coins are left on headstones as a tangible reminder of a visit, offering comfort to the loved ones of the deceased. This practice is especially meaningful when flowers are not permitted or are impractical due to their cost or durability. Coins offer a more lasting and economical alternative.
Additionally, the practice of leaving coins has been influenced by American history and culture. Some people leave pennies on gravesites as a tribute to Benjamin Franklin, inspired by his famous quote, "a penny saved is a penny earned." This tradition began at Franklin's own gravesite and has since been adopted by Americans for the graves of their loved ones.
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Coins are left on military graves to show that living soldiers have visited
Leaving coins on headstones is a long-held tradition with roots in ancient times. In the past, coins were placed in the mouths of the deceased to pay for passage to the afterlife—a bribe to ensure safe passage to the world of the dead. In Navy mythology, coins were placed under the mast of a ship to pay the "ferryman" for safe transport to the afterlife in case sailors died at sea.
In modern times, the practice of leaving coins on headstones is particularly associated with military graves. This tradition is said to have originated during the Vietnam War, when the world was in turmoil, and leaving a coin on a headstone was a way to quietly show respect and avoid conflicts or arguments. Today, coins are left on military graves as a sign that living soldiers have visited the burial site to pay their respects.
Different coins carry different meanings. A penny indicates that someone has visited the grave. A nickel means that the visitor trained in boot camp with the deceased. A dime means that the visitor and the deceased served together, and a quarter signifies that the visitor was with the deceased when they died. Another type of coin that may be left on a soldier's headstone is a challenge coin, which is a special military coin given to soldiers to designate their membership in a specific unit. These coins typically feature the unit's crest and motto.
The coins left on military graves are usually collected and used for cemetery upkeep or to help pay for the burial costs of homeless veterans or other veterans who have passed away.
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Different coins have different meanings
Leaving coins on graves is a long-held tradition that originated in ancient Greece and Rome. In ancient times, people left coins on graves to signify the preparation of the departed for the afterlife. The coins were believed to be a bribe to ensure safe passage to the underworld. Over time, the meaning behind this practice has evolved.
Today, leaving coins on a headstone is primarily a way to pay respects and offer good luck to the deceased. In the context of U.S. military culture, each type of coin carries a specific meaning:
- Penny: Symbolizes visitation and is left by those with no formal relationship with the deceased but wish to honour their service and family.
- Nickel: Left by those who trained at boot camp with the departed.
- Dime: Indicates service alongside the departed in some capacity.
- Quarter: Reserved for those who were with the departed when they passed away.
The tradition of leaving specific coins allows active servicemen and women to communicate with the families of the deceased without overstepping boundaries. The coins are often collected by the cemetery and used for upkeep or to help pay for the burial costs of other veterans.
Outside of military culture, the practice of leaving coins on graves may hold different meanings in various cultures and religions. For instance, in ancient Egypt, the deceased were buried with riches believed to be needed in the next life. Similarly, Greeks placed a coin known as Charon's obol in the mouths of the deceased to pay for their journey to the afterlife.
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The tradition may have originated from Benjamin Franklin's grave
Leaving coins on gravestones is a long-held tradition that is practised across different cultures and religions. In the Jewish faith, for instance, people leave stones on graves, while in Latin America, candles are left. Leaving coins on graves may have originated from Benjamin Franklin's grave.
Benjamin Franklin is often miscredited with the saying, "a penny saved is a penny earned". Variations on this phrase date back to the 1600s, but Franklin put his own spin on it, saying, "a penny saved is a penny got," in his 1758 issue of Poor Richard's Almanack. By the late 1830s, Franklin was erroneously credited as the originator of "a penny saved is a penny earned". As a result, people began tossing pennies on his grave.
The caretaker of the burial ground, Hopkins, removes between $3000 and $4000 worth of pennies from Franklin's grave each year, and these funds go towards preserving the graves in the burial ground. However, the cost of repairs to the tablet caused by the tossing of pennies outweighs the benefits of the tradition. The public's continued practice of throwing coins and mementos onto the grave has created pockmarks and pitting in the tablet's surface, while moisture has gathered beneath it in the granite base.
The tradition of leaving pennies on Franklin's grave has spread beyond the United States, with people adopting this good luck tradition of tossing pennies into the graves of their loved ones. In other cultures, coins on a headstone are a practical solution because they are less expensive than flowers.
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It is a global tradition, practiced in South America, Europe, and Asia
Leaving coins on a headstone or gravestone is a centuries-old tradition that has been practised all over the world, including in South America, Europe, and Asia. The act of leaving coins is a way to pay respect and offer good luck to the departed. In the United States, this tradition is commonly associated with military culture and is often seen in military cemeteries, where coins are left on the graves of veterans as a sign of respect and remembrance. The coins are also collected by the cemeteries to contribute to upkeep and burial costs.
The tradition of leaving coins on graves is believed to have originated in ancient times, with varying interpretations across cultures. One of the most common theories traces its roots to the Roman Empire, where soldiers who died in battle were buried with coins in their mouths. This was done to ensure the soldiers could pay Charon, the ferryman who transported souls across the River Styx, to enter the Underworld. Over time, the meaning evolved, and coins were also seen as a way to ensure the deceased had enough money in the afterlife or as an offering to the gods.
In Latin America, leaving candles on graves is a common practice, while in the Jewish faith, people leave stones. In Asia and Europe, the act of leaving coins is part of a broader tradition of symbolic offerings to deceased loved ones.
The type of coin left on a headstone can also carry specific meanings. For example, in the United States, a penny on a veteran's grave signifies that someone has visited, while a nickel indicates that the visitor trained with the deceased at boot camp.
While the specific traditions and interpretations vary across regions and cultures, the act of leaving coins on graves is a global phenomenon that continues to be practised as a way to honour and remember the deceased.
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Frequently asked questions
Leaving coins on graves is a way to honour the deceased and aid them in their afterlife. It is also a way to pay respects and offer good luck to the departed.
The tradition of leaving coins on graves dates back to ancient Greece. It was believed that leaving coins, known as "Charon's obol", would ensure safe passage to the world of the dead.
Leaving coins on the graves of soldiers is a way for members of the military to communicate with the families of the deceased. Each type of coin holds a different meaning. For example, a penny signifies a visit from someone with no formal relationship with the deceased, while a dime indicates service alongside the departed.
The coins left on graves are typically collected by the cemetery and used for upkeep and to help pay for the burial costs of other veterans.
While leaving coins on graves is a tradition in many cultures and religions, there is no specific mention of it being a Catholic practice. However, Catholics may leave coins on graves as a way to honour the dead and pay their respects.
