EDUC If You See a Coin on a Gravestone, This Is What It Means

BigFootsCousin

Molon Labe!
Fair Use-
Story by Madison Zoey Vettorino • Yesterday 2:39 PM

Ever visited a cemetery and noticed a splattering of items left on gravestones? From coins to flowers to stones, there's a sentiment behind why visitors leave certain pieces. And if you've ever noticed coins in particular on a headstone, you might be curious why. As it turns out, this act of remembrance is intended to honor individuals who served this country through military service.

What does it mean when there are coins on a gravestone?​

When you see coins on a gravestone, this signifies that the person buried there was a member of the military. Similar to gold stars on license plates, these coins are a meaningful way for people to convey their pride in a loved one who is no longer with them. People who visit the deceased service member can leave a coin on the headstone so when loved ones come to the cemetery, they're aware that others have been to pay their respects, too. This moving sentiment can make a tremendous impact on the family of deceased military folks, which is why it's a special tradition.
It's also important to take note of the type of coin on the stone. For instance, different coins hold different meanings.

What do individual coins on a gravestone mean?​

Coins on a Gravestone Getty 1219631870 Resize Recolor Crop DH RD Coins on a Gravestone and What it Means
Coins on a Gravestone Getty 1219631870 Resize Recolor Crop DH RD Coins on a Gravestone and What it Means© Chris Lauer/Getty Images

As you may have guessed, the different coins have different associations. If you notice a quarter on a headstone, for instance, the past visitor is trying to convey something different than if they'd left a penny. Let's walk through what the individual coin types mean.

If you notice a penny on a gravestone, this signifies that a person has visited the headstone. It's an act of gratitude for the person's service. Anyone can leave a penny, whether they are a family member, friend or fellow service person.

If there is a nickel on the gravestone, this means that the visitor who left it went to boot camp with the person buried.

Next, if you see a dime on their gravestone, that signifies that the visitor served with the deceased military member.

Seeing a quarter has a particularly heavy association. If you notice a quarter, this signifies that a previous visitor was present when the soldier passed away.
Now that you understand what each coin means when you see it, you'll have a better idea of what it means when you see this emotional item left behind at a gravestone. And more importantly, you'll know the proper way to leave a coin.
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BFC- I've never seen coins on a gravestone, and I was a Gravedigger for many years when I was younger. Well, now I know!
 

bw

Fringe Ranger
Sounds made-up to me. As for the presence of coins, it varies widely. In Alaska we visited one cemetery that had lots of stones with coins. Never seen it locally.
 

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
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Some "traditions" are invented yesterday by spoofers trying to "make their mark on the world" saying this or that " goes way back"! I don't know about this it, if real, may be a local thing.
I never heard of it and we're military, and lived in Mi, Pa, Fl, Ca, Tx, and Wa.


:rolleyes:

This practice can be traced back to the Roman Empire.

Trendsetters that they were.
 

Dobbin

Faithful Steed
I take great comfort in seeing a "horseshoe" hung above my stall door. Its too small for me - and has been there a LONG time (The barn was built in 1907.)

There are those who precede us in this life. And still others who will succeed us.

Dobbin
 

TerriHaute

Hoosier Gardener
I have never seen coins on a headstone but I have seen stones many times. It is a Jewish custom but I am not sure if a means anything other than remembrance or respect. I used to drive past a Jewish cemetery everyday on my way to work and most grave markers had several stones or small rocks. I remember at the end of the Schindler's List movie that they showed a long line of people approaching Schindler's grave. It was all the people who Schindler had saved who were still alive, each accompanied by an actor from the movie, as most were elderly. Together, each pair placed stones on Schindler's head stone.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I've seen lots of coins on grave stones at Camp Butler Cemetery, I've also seen tobacco, cig butts, and cans of chew. I've left tobacco on my mom's gravestone. Straight plain tobacco means the person buried there is either native american or a NA left the tobacco, as an offering of peace and respect, sometimes sage or sweetgrass is also left on the headstone.
 

oops

Veteran Member
I can remember going to the family cemetery n some of the old folks with us would give us kids coins n tells us to put them in specific places on the backside of the stone…n that was in the late 60s…so the folks were mainly ww1 or 2 age…so that makes sense with what I remember…
 

Henry Bowman

Veteran Member
:rolleyes:

This practice can be traced back to the Roman Empire.

Trendsetters that they were.
The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire. Soldiers would insert a coin into the mouth of a fallen soldier to ensure they could cross the “River Styx” into the afterlife.

It always amazes me how little history people know especially in this day and age where information can be easily found...you need to sort through it sometimes and takes a little work.
 

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire. Soldiers would insert a coin into the mouth of a fallen soldier to ensure they could cross the “River Styx” into the afterlife.

It always amazes me how little history people know especially in this day and age where information can be easily found...you need to sort through it sometimes and takes a little work.

Where did putting pennies in eyes of dead come from?

I remember my mama saying someone who was a skinflint "would steal the pennies from a dead man's eyes." NOT a compliment.
 

Henry Bowman

Veteran Member
Where did putting pennies in eyes of dead come from?

I remember my mama saying someone who was a skinflint "would steal the pennies from a dead man's eyes." NOT a compliment.
Pretty much the same era but done by the Egyptians. Later it was done by the Irish for similar reasons, a bribe to get to the afterlife.

They did it in the 1800's in order to keep the eyelids closed after rigor had set in. They did it most famously to Lincoln
 

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
You see coins on many gravestones at Arlington national cemetery. It's a guesture of respect for the soldiers. It's like seeing packs of Kools, Marlboros and Kents, small bottles of whiskey and the like leaned up against the Vietnam war memorial.
It shows to others this soldier mattered, and that they are still remembered.
 

Blacknarwhal

Let's Go Brandon!
Or pool tables.

That one I never heard. We actually had a place in the area where you could play pool and pay by the hour. It was a nice place. They tore it down and built a marijuana shop where it was. That was bad, but not quite as bad as the mini golf place that got turned into a used car lot....
 

Wildwood

Veteran Member
Where did putting pennies in eyes of dead come from?

I remember my mama saying someone who was a skinflint "would steal the pennies from a dead man's eyes." NOT a compliment.
I've always heard someone would steal the nickels from a dead man's eye's...I'm in Arkansas so I'm sure things change regionally. It was one of my maternal grandmother's favorite sayings...so wish I'd have written them all down. She had a bunch.

My grandmother explained how they would place nickels on their eyes right after they passed to keep them closed. They use to keep bodies at home until burial, build their own casket and have their own little cemeteries on their property. My maternal grandfather's people did that and I still go there and decorate his grave every year along with my uncle who was stillborn.
 

bethshaya

God has a plan, Trust it!
Middle Eastern tradition is to put a stone of the tomestone to denote they are not forgotten - someone has been there.
 
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