It's a naval tradition dating back to Roman times, when coins were placed under the mast of a new ship so that if the crew were to die at sea, they could pay the mythical ferryman to transport them across the River Styx and into the afterlife.
Also, in ancient times, it was custom to place coins in the hand or the mouth of the deceased before burial or cremation, so that the deceased could pay the ferryman to go to Hades.
The ferryman's name was Charon and is a figure in Greek myths (he is also present in other cultures). The son of Nyx and Erebus, he is an ominous figure tightly connected with the realm of the dead.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
@tincup said:
If that is a coin.... it is a really large coin. Certainly not of gold. Some sort of ceremonial item?
I read something about this a few days ago. That arm belonged to a small child who died in the mid 1800's and whose body was found in Hungary and the copper had anti- bacteriological properties which preserved much of the arm.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I buried silver dollars with my father and my brother and put them in their hands as we closed the coffin at the grave sight. My dad always had a thing for history and greek mythology. We are Irish and our family is fairly new, a couple of generations from Ireland and my grandparents on both sides had some serious pagan beliefs. It was a hedge. The undertaker looked at me when I told him to pry the nails up so I could do it. I thought WTF did you nail it shut? Whatever - I would regret never having done it when my father asked me to do it. I did it out of courtesy to my brother in memory of my father, they did not nail it shut this time. I also put my brothers favorite putter in his coffin at the same time. I guess it is more for me than them, but my dad asked me to do it - so I did.
Comments
Whoa, didn't expect to see that!!
bob
Environmental damage.
Lotta PVC damage. Looks really corrosive.
Maybe he is just waiting for his grades to post.
The Curse of the Mummy's Hand
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
Maybe it was meant to pay the ferryman?
It's a naval tradition dating back to Roman times, when coins were placed under the mast of a new ship so that if the crew were to die at sea, they could pay the mythical ferryman to transport them across the River Styx and into the afterlife.
Also, in ancient times, it was custom to place coins in the hand or the mouth of the deceased before burial or cremation, so that the deceased could pay the ferryman to go to Hades.
The ferryman's name was Charon and is a figure in Greek myths (he is also present in other cultures). The son of Nyx and Erebus, he is an ominous figure tightly connected with the realm of the dead.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Think it would CAC?
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
Someone had fun making that photo. Environmental damage on that copper disk for sure. Come pry it out of my cold dead hand...
I gotta hand it to ya that's different
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
I would be interested in the backstory of that picture..... May be a prop of course, or, it could be real... Therein the story.... Cheers, RickO
If that is a coin.... it is a really large coin. Certainly not of gold. Some sort of ceremonial item?
I read something about this a few days ago. That arm belonged to a small child who died in the mid 1800's and whose body was found in Hungary and the copper had anti- bacteriological properties which preserved much of the arm.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Here's the story from the Smithsonian..........
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-copper-coin-mummified-babys-hand-180969168/
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Now I know what to do with all those wheaties, next time I attend an open casket event.
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
I think it would get body-bagged.
Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard
I buried silver dollars with my father and my brother and put them in their hands as we closed the coffin at the grave sight. My dad always had a thing for history and greek mythology. We are Irish and our family is fairly new, a couple of generations from Ireland and my grandparents on both sides had some serious pagan beliefs. It was a hedge. The undertaker looked at me when I told him to pry the nails up so I could do it. I thought WTF did you nail it shut? Whatever - I would regret never having done it when my father asked me to do it. I did it out of courtesy to my brother in memory of my father, they did not nail it shut this time. I also put my brothers favorite putter in his coffin at the same time. I guess it is more for me than them, but my dad asked me to do it - so I did.
Probably. It's never been cleaned or messed with.
This is just about the right size . . . .
My grandfather found a V Nickel while plowing when he was a young man in the late 1940's. One went to the grave with him in his vest pocket.
https://www.smallcopperguy.com