- A form of respect for the dead or bereavement
- The practice began in classical antiquity when people believed that the dead needed coins to pay a ferryman to cross the river Styx, in modern times the practice is still observed in the USA and Canada where visitors leave coins on the gravestones of former military personnel
Ancient Practice §
- It was believed that when people died, they needed coins to pay Charon to cross the river Styx, without coins the dead would not be able to cross and they would therefore live on the banks of the river for 100 years
- Ancient Egyptians buried people with riches that they might need in the next life
- Greeks were known to put a coin known as Charon’s obol in the mouths of the deceased people
- In Jewish bereavement, there is archaeological evidence to suggest that Jewish people placed coins over the eyes of the dead
Modern Practice §
- In modern times, leaving coins for the dead has been observed in military graves in America and Canada, it is seen as a way of showing respect for the person’s sacrifice
- The denomination used signifies the level of relationship the visitor had with the dead:
- Penny means a person visited
- A nickel means the visitor went to boot camp with the decedent
- A dime means the visitor served with the deceased
- Quarter means the visitor was present when the decedent was killed