What is the story behind leaving coins on the eyes of the dead ?

3 posts
coinsoldier
Closed account
Posted: 13 Dec 2012, 04:57 #
Posted: #
What is the story behind leaving coins on the eyes of the dead ?
ZacUK Numista team
Joined: 3 Jan 2011
Posts: 16710
Posted: 13 Dec 2012, 11:48 #
Posted: #
  I think it was something to do with paying a ferryman to cross some mystical river. Maybe also just to prevent them from opening, and also heard about coins in mouth.
   Ah yes - here's some ...

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_did_the_two_coins_over_the_deads_eyes_start_Whats_the_history_of_it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_piece

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charon%27s_obol
Token collector [1600-1899] with some coins
bam777
Joined: 5 Aug 2011
Posts: 4414
Posted: 13 Dec 2012, 11:52 #
Posted: #
Quote: ZacUKI think it was something to do with paying a ferryman to cross some mystical river. Maybe also just to prevent them from opening, and also heard about coins in mouth.
To pay the ferryman Charon to cross the river Styx or to make grave robbers wealthy.
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