In cemeteries, particularly those honoring soldiers, coins are often discreetly placed on graves. This age-old practice, far from being accidental, carries a profound symbolic meaning and testifies to a touching tradition of remembrance. But what story lies behind this poignant ritual?
An age-old custom with diverse origins
The practice of placing objects on graves has its roots in ancient civilizations. The ancient Greeks, for example, used to place an obol in the mouths of the deceased. This coin served to pay Charon, the mythological ferryman who transported the souls of the dead across the river of the Underworld. This gesture symbolically marked the journey to the realm of shadows.
This tradition has evolved over the ages, taking on different meanings across cultures. During the American Civil War , soldiers are said to have started the practice of leaving coins on the graves of their fallen comrades, either to mark their presence or to settle a symbolic debt.
The secret language of funerary coins
In contemporary military cemeteries , each item placed there carries a coded message:
- (1 cent) : a token of respect. The visitor may not have known the deceased personally.
- (5 cents) : indicates a companionship during military training.
- (10 cents) : reveals a common service under the flags.
- (25 centimes) : poignant symbol – the depositary witnessed the soldier’s death.
Each metal thus becomes the vehicle of a memory, a complicity, or a silent testimony .
Mexico: An offering during Día de los Muertos
During the famous Day of the Dead , Mexicans place “ofrendas” on graves, sometimes including small coins, thus symbolically accompanying their deceased into the afterlife while honoring their memory.
