Other than for spending and collecting, what have been other uses for coins over the years?
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I know Lincoln's face on the cent is placed into loafers to wort off evil spirits (thus, pennie loafers) and pre-1980 (lack of zinc) coins are used to keep Christmas trees fresh much longer, but what have been other uses for coins over the centuries? Fishing lures (I've heard the reference but not know it true or not)? Toggle wheels in mechanical devices (large cents)?
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Fuses, screwdrivers, football game kickoffs.
The coin used for flipping (heads or tails) are more tokens than coins though. I'm looking at just coins, not other things even though it is related.
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Especially indian head gold and ancient barbarian aged relic coins! Think: pinkie rings.
Remembrance pieces left at cemeteries
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I've not heard or am familiar with this practice. Is it done also in the United States (my homeland)?
Please elaborate.
Kind of like leaving a token that you've visited a place. Or a stone.
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My grandmothers placed small rocks on tombstones.....probably too frugal to go with the coins...
Target practice.
Lance.
As a kid, we use to "pitch" pennies. As to gamble which penny (or in my case nickels or quarters) would be closer, when pitched or tossed, to the line on the sidewalk. The coin closer to the line would win that person's coin. The best shot would be called a "Liner". That was when the coin would land right on the line.
We also, played another game with pitching pennies. It was called "baseball". Same idea but more rules. A liner would be a "Homerun". A coin three fingers length away from the line, would be a single, two fingers a double and one finger would be a triple. Any coin that is further than three fingers away from the line, is an out. 9 innings per game.
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Nailed over doors in colonial times - to 'Welcome money in'.....Cents were put on dead people's eyes during wakes to prevent the eyelids opening....Coins thrown in wishing wells/ponds....Coin given to the person gifting a knife, superstition is it will prevent the knife from 'biting' the recipient... Cheers, RickO
I've heard of dimes under door sills to ward off evil spirits
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I have a Jefferson Nickel that shims up my Microwave oven
Steve
Or shim a dormitory door so the room occupant couldn't get out!
Also, another use of a Penny. In the Movie, "Ghost". Patrick Swayze used it to show Demi Moore it was him. Once again, In the Movie " Somewhere in time" with Christopher Reeves, the Penny pulled out of his pocket, shot Reeves back to modern days. Two out of this world uses of a Penny!
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.magic tricks
I also used a 1935 WLH and a 1964 Kennedy as an offering for First Class Fare to Heaven a few years Back after Tiger my Cat passed away, and I believe it worked because a Flock of Seagulls circled over our backyard ready to transport his soul to heaven...........whether or not that's the case, it eased my grief.
Steve
I've not heard or am familiar with this practice. Is it done also in the United States (my homeland)?
Please elaborate.
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Feeding one arm bandits in casinos
One of my favorites was about a ton of 1944 Belgium 2F coins (same planchet as US 1943 cents) were found being used as a counterweight in an elevator.
mounted on clocks
Used as bottons (civil war)?
Used on car batteries.
I used a few cents and some nickels to level my fountain.
Golf ball marker.
Wishing wells. remember that poor turtle that ate several pounds of coins.
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Notched/holed and used as pie cutters (after affixing to a handle) or roundels for stirrups. Small art objects (repousse pieces), store cards/advertising (after being counterstamped), watches, belt buckles (particularly silver dollars).
In Jackson, WY there are two bars that are particularly known for the large numbers of silver dollars set into the bar tops for use as decorations: Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and the Silver Dollar Bar (Wort Hotel).
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How? Is this a local custom?
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We used to put them on the train track and then see who got the flattest after the fact
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During lunchtime in grade school we'd play a game trying to bump a coin across the table using a fingernail tap (first launch was with the heel of the hand). The object was to get a "hanger" and score. Then the opponent would spread his index and pinkie fingers onto the table's edge and the scorer would try for a field goal.
Don't know if the game had a name. I doubt we invented it. Anyone else play this?
Lance.
Measuring tire tread wear.
I seen a complete kitchen floor made with lincoln pennies
dimes for adjusting the sights on some rifles ( cents/pennies have worked as well )
On sailboats a coin is placed under the mast for good luck. Old penny coins are used to adjust the speed of the Big Ben clock in London.
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RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
buttons for shirts or pants
Copper Pennies under the bed to treat arthritis.
Face on a watch.
Jewelry
Melted for the precious metal (s).
Silver dollars placed on the eyes of corpses while in a casket at the funeral viewing.
Pennies at 25 paces with a .22 as a kid is how I started. By the time I was 18 it was lighting stick matches at that range.
Used a dime over one group shot at 100 yards with a custom built 22/250 rifle when I was thirty.
Door stopper
Pie crimper, washer
I will use coins for making very important life decisions
In the 19th century (supposedly) a large cent was tossed into the pickle jar on the counter of a general store to turn the pickles green.
Can of coke from a vending machine.
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The penny acts as a sacrificial metal so it attracts the corrosion and not the lead battery terminals
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