Why Coins Are Left On Headstones...

Broadstruck

While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave.

These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.

A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect.

Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.

A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity.

By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed.

According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.

In the US, this practice became common during the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier's family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war.

Some Vietnam veterans would leave coins as a "down payment" to buy their fallen comrades a beer or play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited.

The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire.

MrHalfDime

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing that. You can always learn something new on this forum.

ernie11

Sometimes the coin that is left is tied to the person. Across Arch Street from the Philadelphia Mint is Ben Franklin's grave, which always has lots of pennies on it, presumably because of his saying in regards to savings.

JerseyJoe

Interesting write up

snopes.com

Broadstruck

<< <i>Very interesting. Thank you for sharing that. You can always learn something new on this forum. >>



I just saw it on Facebook and didn't recall it ever being mentioned here?

coindeuce

Somehow I get the impression that "Texas Ellen" Wilson was in a branch of service other than military.

Coinsponge

Very interesting tradition. I have visited a good number of veteran graves and have never noticed coins but I like the idea. Looks like the gravestone in the pic was that of a popular saloon gal though.

Broadstruck

<< <i>Somehow I get the impression that "Texas Ellen" Wilson was in a branch of service other than military. >>



Oops Ellen Wilson

WillieBoyd2

This topic was also covered here in September:

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=897633

I would suspect that certain celebrities' graves are routinely cleared of coins and other items.

Cameonut

Thanks for sharing. I lived near a National Cemetery and never knew the significance of the coins left for our heroes.

windwhispersintrees

Paul Revere's grave in the Granary Burying Ground in Boston is always covered in cents.

njcoincrank

I've never heard of any reasons before, or even that people did it. Other than me.

Every time I stop by my grandmothers grave I leave change on her headstone.

It was her who got me into collecting coin when I was a little boy.

It's my way of saying "Thanks. I love you and miss you grandma".

njcc

Gemini

Curly Howard comic partner of Three Stooges has coins all around his stone plus someone has spelled out in cents in front NYUK NYUK NYUK NYUK....I had to smile at that .. (search) Curly Howard find a grave.

BackroadJunkie

<< <i>Sometimes the coin that is left is tied to the person. Across Arch Street from the Philadelphia Mint is Ben Franklin's grave, which always has lots of pennies on it, presumably because of his saying in regards to savings. >>

Ben, is still my favorite American. My pocket piece is a Franklin half.

Years ago, I always heard it was wives-to-be wanting luck, which was ironic since Ben treated Deb like crap. In any event, here's a pretty good take on it:

Benjamin Franklin, still cashing in

I've been there to pay my respects, but in the spirit of Mr. Franklin, I did it from Arch Street and didn't pay the two bucks to get into the cemetery. If you ever visit the Philly Mint, it's right across the street. As a matter of fact, they point this out to you on the tour, and you can see the graveyard from the windows at the mint...

Oh, and thanks to Broadstruck for the OP. Very cool...

ricko

Interesting thread....and being former Navy, I have heard of the coin/challenge coin tradition. It may have developed from the Viet Nam era, at least that is when I first became aware of it. Saw it done for local soldiers way back then.... Cheers, RickO

Rollerman

As you can see by my avatar I'm a Bix Beiderbecke fan. Bix was one of the all time great jazz cornet players of the 1920's and a virtual musical genius. He's buried in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa. I was told by the caretaker there that not only coins, but tokens, a small oil painting of a 20's "flapper", a cigar, cans of beer, and pints of gin (recognizing Bix's drinking problem he shared with many in the 20's) photo's and other odd things have been left at his tombstone.

Here's a link to one of his compositions, Davenport Blues. While in YouTube, listen to "Singing the Blues", Flashes (one of his 4 piano pieces) and I'm Coming (home) Virginia for a taste of his genius. His solo in "I'm coming Virginia" near the middle of the song is a favorite among many of his fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpIZde7lVoY&amp;feature=channel

Best wishes,
Pete

johnny9434

interesting thread, thaks for sharing