Leaving a Coin on a Grave

[Kevin J.]

I have never heard of this, maybe others here have.

Leaving a penny means you visited and want to thank the veteran of the armed forces for their service. A nickel left at a grave means you trained at boot camp with the deceased servicemen, while a dime suggests you served with him or her. Finally, a quarter signifies if previous visitors were with the soldier when they passed away.

Read More: What It Means If You See a Penny on a Grave Here in Minnesota | What It Means If You See a Penny on a Grave Here in Minnesota

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I'd not heard the denomination explanation before, and I've seen the practice only once.

Pennies are always present on the headstone of Chief Washakie's grave in the small Shoshone Indian cemetery in the town named for him -- Fort Washakie, Fremont County, Wyoming.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have never had to leave a dime or quarter , since I never visited these head stones
but I have left a dine and several pennies on several headstones, over the years.
Twice a year my family lays flowers and a flag at the head stones of people that
we know, to pay our respect, for them.

Many are in the state of Utah, on my wife's side of the family.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I asked mom about this. She has done it since she was a young girl as that's what her mother taught her to do. While done out of respect she says the tradition goes back to England borrowing the tribute from the Greeks who place coins on the eyes or mouth of the deceased to cover "Charon's obol" or boatman's fare.

My kids and grandkids do it simply out of respect and because the matriarch does it.

 

[RobertJ.]

I'd never heard of it. I learn something new here every day!

But I did leave a Fender guitar pick on Jimi Hendrix's memorial. There were a couple of young guys there getting baked and they both said, "That was so cool!"

 

[fordson]

Where my parents came from in Europe, people would leave a stone on the grave as a sign that the deceased was remembered and someone had visited. They were farmers and couldn't afford coins.

 

[Heinz]

There is a similar Jewish tradition of placing a small stone on the headstone when you visit a grave. There are many explanations, but basically it is showing you care.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Mom said her father would give her and her sister either a farthing (1/4 penny) or a ha'penny (half-pence) to leave on the headstone or grave marker.

 

[Sarge9]

Not to hijack
Cigar & beer- Happy Father's Day
Miss u

 

[Kevin J.]

I'd never heard of it. I learn something new here every day!

But I did leave a Fender guitar pick on Jimi Hendrix's memorial. There were a couple of young guys there getting baked and they both said, "That was so cool!"

Similar to when I visited Bob Marleys home/grave in Jamaica. But the requested tribute was more in the vegetative manner.

 

[Kevin J.]

Not to hijack
Cigar & beer- Happy Father's Day
Miss u

Always a cold Budweiser for dad when I visit.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Similar to when I visited Bob Marleys home/grave in Jamaica. But the requested tribute was more in the vegetative manner.

An herbal burnt offering.

 

[handejector]

I can imagine what you guys 'll leave on my grave.....

Form a line!

 

[PeterJ]

First time I saw that practice was at a memorial at the Branch Dravidian's site near Waco. There were lots of pictures of the people deceased and tons of coins everywhere.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I can imagine what you guys 'll leave on my grave.....

Form a line!

 

[Rustyt1953]

I can imagine what you guys 'll leave on my grave.....

Form a line!

I packed your bag.

 

[Kevin J.]

I can imagine what you guys 'll leave on my grave.....

Form a line!

We are going to just stand it around and talk about banned topics.

 

[Tom Kent]

A few years ago I took an Honor Flight. When we visited Arlington National Cemetery the head stone of Audi Murphy was covered in coins.

 

[SMSgt]

A few years ago I took an Honor Flight. When we visited Arlington National Cemetery the head stone of Audi Murphy was covered in coins.

Helps pay for the upkeep.

 

[crazyphil]

Handejecors post reminded of the story about a former president who
called one of his generals into the oval office and fired him. Just as he
started out the door the former president said I'll bet you will pxxx on
my grave. The general replied no sir I have promised myself that when
I get out of the Army I will never stand in another line.

On this past Memorial Day I took a nice pot of orchid colored Mums
to put on my wife's grave. My oldest daughter went by in the afternoon
and said the pot of Mums was gone. It is hard to imagine what kind of
person would do that.