Why Are There Coins on Headstones?

Leaving coins on a headstone can signify different things.

There are many traditions revolving around death and its rituals. Each of these traditions carries its own symbolism, and sometimes the significance is understood only by those who are in on it. One such tradition is the practice of leaving coins on a headstone.

Toll Fee

The ancient Greeks left coins with the deceased to pay the toll to Charon, the ferryman of the river Styx, to be transported into the underworld.

Visitation Marker

Similar to leaving flowers or small stones, coins are sometimes left on the headstone to show that someone has visited the grave and remembered the individual buried there.

Military

The significance of coins left on military graves dates back to the Roman Empire. Today, the meaning changes depending on the coin left. The higher the value of the coin left on the headstone, the more closely connected militarily the visitor was with the deceased.

Cure for Ghosts

There is a myth that if someone is being haunted, particularly if the ghost is someone to whom money was owed, leaving coins on his tombstone allows the ghost to collect it.

Wish Fulfillment

Legend states that dropping a coin on a headstone or grave of someone will cause those buried there to either grant a wish or assist in fulfilling a wish.

References

• Military Salute Project: Placing Coins on Headstones
• Vintageviews.org: Glossary of Victorian Cemetery Symbolism
• Donnellys.com: Frequently Asked Questions About the Donnellys