If You See A Coin Left On Tombstone, This Is Why

While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that certain headstones have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave.

Oftentimes, people will leave behind a small token at a graveside. Coins, particularly pennies, are sometimes left at gravesides to indicate someone has visited the grave to pay their respects. It has long been a tradition among Jews, for example, to leave a small pebble or stone atop a headstone, to indicate someone who cared for the deceased has stopped by.

In recent years, it has been circulated widely on the Internet that coins on a fallen soldier’s graves have a specific meaning. It’s indicated that the denomination of the coins has significance. For example, a nickel means you served in boot camp with them, a dime meant you served with him, and a quarter means you were with them when they died.

This coin practice appears to be more legend than standard military practice. Although, in the video below, a man is seen laying coins at the graves of fallen military in Cambridge, MA, there is a practice that soldiers have done for many years.

Soldiers have been known to leave behind Challenge coins at a fallen comrade’s grave. These medallions identify their bearers as members of a particular military unit and are prized by those to whom they have been given.

If you happen to see a challenge coin at a gravesite you will know that almost certainly it was left there by a comrade-in-arms of the deceased to pay their respects.

Have you seen such a token or a coin left at a graveside? What do you think of this custom?

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