Hello everyone! I saw this on a Reader's Digest link and thought it was interesting. Something I never knew before. 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. 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. I hope you enjoyed this long but interesting articles! Thanks..
@SensibleSal66 Funny you should bring this up. My grandfather is interned at the Philadelphia National Cemetery. As soon as the weather cools off I'll go over to visit it. He's in section I.
This doesn’t just apply to people who were in the military. When I saw the gravestones of the Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, they had coins on them as well. Neither of them served in the military, but both rendered great services to this country. When I saw the Franklin gravestone in Philadelphia, there were a lot of pennies on it. It made me think of his quote, “ A penny saved is a penny earned.” Of course Franklin was talking about real pennies, the British variety.
@johnmilton When I would go to the US Mint in Philadelphia, I would park near Franklins grave and throw a coin in.
Thank you! Very interesting and touching. I see many items left. Like little cars, animals etc. what they liked or cherished. Special meanings.
John D. Rockefeller would carry dimes with him and give them away to passersby, often children. His grave always has a number of dimes left on it, even today.
At the university of Louisville’s law school the students will leave coins on the grave of Justice Brandeis and his wife. They are buried at the old main entrance to the law school. I probably should have participated in the tradition during my brief attendance there, I might have lasted longer…. Lol
True story. When my father died suddenly my mother purchased a block of gravesites in Liberty Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson NY. In honor of Dad's Druidical beliefs we had my foster brother who is an MD put a silver dollar in each of his hands. As the first shovelful of dirt landed on his casket, the Port Jefferson ferry whistle blew. One of us said "at least we know he had the right fare."
