Off The RecordIf You See A Coin On A Loved One’s Gravestone, You Need To Know What It Means

When you visit cemeteries, you can discover that past visitors have left pennies on the headstones of military members.

Depending on the coin’s denomination, these coins have different significance when placed on the headstones of veterans, particularly those who gave their lives while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Commemorating military personnel with coins on their headstones is a custom that dates back to the Roman Empire.

The purpose of a coin placed on a headstone or at the graveyard is to inform the family of the fallen soldier that someone else has paid their respects.

Leaving a penny at the grave signifies only your presence.
A nickel signifies that you received boot camp training alongside the deceased.
A dime denotes some sort of service rendered to the departed.
By giving the family a quarter, you are letting them know that you were present when the soldier was slain.
Because of the political division over the war in the United States, this technique grew widespread during the Vietnam War.

Leaving a penny at the tomb was a more practical method to indicate that you had paid your respects than calling the soldier’s family, which might lead to an awkward debate about wartime politics.

When their deceased colleagues would eventually be reunited, some Vietnam soldiers would leave pennies as a “down payment” to purchase a beer or play a game of cards.

These more modern times still see coins on both military and non-military markers in addition to other modest artifacts, such as tombstones placed at the head of the burial site or plaques sitting atop the sod.

The sole goal of these little mementos left by guests is to let the family know that someone has paid them a visit.

Coins, particularly pennies, are preferred by those who want to show that the departed are remembered on non-military headstones.

A nickel denotes your shared education, a dime your shared employment, and a quarter your presence at their passing.

Now Trending:
Dog Refuses To Leave Grave – Then A Woman Sneaks Closer To Find The Truth
5-Year-Old Boy Visits Twin Brother’s Grave in Heartbreaking Photo, But What He Told His Brother Broke Me
Mom Captured The Spirit Of Her Dead Daughter Playing With Her Toys At Her Own Grave
Please SHARE this story with your family and friends on Facebook and let us know what you think in comments!

Related Posts

The Man at the Café Who Taught Me the True Meaning of Kindness

For nearly five years, I served breakfast each morning to the same man at a small downtown café. His name was Henry. He always ordered black coffee…

At our annual family reunion, my older sister, Maria, shoved me into the lake. She

The following morning, I woke up with a sense of clarity I hadn’t felt in years. The lake’s icy embrace had jolted me awake in more ways…

She Tried to Push My Family Out — But Fate Had a Different Idea

When my husband and I finally moved into our dream home on the edge of the forest, I pictured peaceful mornings, laughter in the backyard, and friendly…

The Day a Tough Biker Showed Me the True Meaning of Kindness

I was driving home from work when I noticed a motorcycle stopped on the shoulder of Highway 52. At first, I almost kept going—people say bikers are…

The Genius Idea Making Life a Little Better Every Day

The Internet Is Baffled by This Strange Object—It’s a Shoe Horn! A shoe horn may seem odd today, but it’s a handy tool with a long history….

A Simple Habit My Husband Had — and the Unexpected Truth Behind

It started as a harmless habit — my husband waking up in the middle of the night to sip water straight from the bathroom tap instead of…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *