Does anyone know any urban legend, spooky myth, superstition or something like that concerning certain coins? There must be more than a few but I don’t know a lot of them, and I’m curious. (Numismatomancy is probably the closest thing I’ve got, and I know about the 5 Yen coin used for easy, Ouija-esque divination—and, of course, Kokkuri-san, in which a 100 Yen coin is typically used—but that’s about it. Any interesting tales?
There is the legend says that a penny dropped from the Empire State Building would strike a pedestrian and go right through his head killing him instantly.
Buy some peoples collection when they have passed away recently is also a very bad choice. Because some people have very strong feelings attached to the item, when they passed away, their soul is attached to the item. So whoever that owns it, the should of the person is still attached to it.
Be kind to people. Sharing is Caring. Collect what you like and not by the Crowd.
To seek for perfection, it is too painful and there is a very high price to pay. To seek for something comfortable is more easy. To seek for nothing is even more easy.
Thank you! I’ve heard of the Space Invaders urban legend and Singapore’s feng shui, and I find the Empire State Building one intriguing, but I think it’s sort of strange that there aren’t so many stories or beliefs like the soul-attaching-to-the-coin myth (I’ve thought about writing a short story about it before, but that’s another story), considering the commonness of coins and the fact that things we use or see in our daily lives often tend to have a number of urban legends or ghost stories around them?
There is a short story The Bottle Imp byR. L. Stevenson, where small denomination coins are important element of the plot.
But I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for.
Are you interested in contemporary urban legends only? Or do fairy tales and the like qualify as well?
Hm, I’ve heard of that short – Stevenson is one of my favourite authors (literature, mythology and folklore are well within the range of my specialties) – but didn’t know it featured coins! However, yes, I’m currently looking for modern urban legends, conspiracy theories and such about coins, just like the Eye of Providence on the one dollar bill being associated with the Illuminati’s influence in America. I’m convinced that there must be more than a few, but my search hasn’t been quite successful...
How about banknotes (I knew $2 bills were considered to be bad luck, I also knew the corners were torn-off on some to reverse the bad luck, but I didn't know why until I read this):
"Many $2 bills, , are found with one or more corners torn off – and this subject was mentioned to me in two separate conversations with attendees of a recent coin and currency show in Illinois. One of the collectors, from Dahlonega, Georgia hill country, told me it was not unusual to see a $2 bill with all four corners torn off.
It seems the $2 bill has been seen in some parts of the country since the 19th century as bringing "bad luck" – and the only way to counteract the "bad spell" was to tear off a corner. If a farmer got one in change at the general store or a gambler won one in a poker pot, he was likely to promptly remove a corner! As a result, many $2 bills circulated in America with a missing corner and many worn-out $2 bills turned in at the Treasury for destruction have been missing one or more corners.
There are a number of theories about the tainted image of the $2 bill. First of all, it's called a "deuce" – a word for the devil – "What the deuce (devil) is he up to?" Some point to the standard horse racing bet of two dollars, and possession of $2 bills could hint of a gambling habit. When election-rigging was common, the reward for a favorable vote was often two dollars. So a $2 bill could be evidence that you'd sold your vote!"
Quote: "Cuthwellis"Thank you! I’ve heard of the Space Invaders urban legend and Singapore’s feng shui, and I find the Empire State Building one intriguing, but I think it’s sort of strange that there aren’t so many stories or beliefs like the soul-attaching-to-the-coin myth (I’ve thought about writing a short story about it before, but that’s another story), considering the commonness of coins and the fact that things we use or see in our daily lives often tend to have a number of urban legends or ghost stories around them?
in Mexican "treasure hunting" folklore there is the belief that many places deemed to be haunted are usually home to a large stash of money buried near by. lots of tales of turn of the century attired ghosts guiding people to buried pots of coins. This has led to people dismissing others accounts of scary bumps at night with "you should have asked them where the money is"
Not sure if it counts as an urban legend or spooky tale, but years ago the tradition used to be to place pennies over the eyes of a dead body.
It was a tradition that came from Greek mythology where the ferryman over the river Styx required payment to transport the soul from the land of the living to the land of the dead. Without payment the souls of the dead were doomed to walk the shores of the river Styx
This video, proves through science, that a penny dropped off the Empire State Building would barely sting you let alone kill you - mainly due to the lack of aerodynamic flow and the weather conditions (Buildings have an updraft, many coins would land on a ledge.
My favourite legend of haunted coins are the Japanese stories of Ubume ghosts.
Ubume are ghostly females who beg you to go and buy some food/milk for their starving bay, they give you coins - but once they are in your hands they turn into old leaves and dissolve. Most people are suspicious when the coins given are old mon coins (Holey cash from before 1870) or early Meiji coppers.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Quote: "Moneytane"This video, proves through science, that a penny dropped off the Empire State Building would barely sting you let alone kill you - mainly due to the lack of aerodynamic flow and the weather conditions (Buildings have an updraft, many coins would land on a ledge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oIakJekCZU
My favourite legend of haunted coins are the Japanese stories of Ubume ghosts.
Ubume are ghostly females who beg you to go and buy some food/milk for their starving bay, they give you coins - but once they are in your hands they turn into old leaves and dissolve. Most people are suspicious when the coins given are old mon coins (Holey cash from before 1870) or early Meiji coppers.
are we talking copper, steel, zinc or the experimental aluminum ones?
I'm familiar with the Ubume legend, but never heard of their connection with coins! (Granted, there are dozens of tales about this type of ghost, which is reportedly still seen even to this day...)
However, it reminds me of the tale of the Kosodate Yurei, the child-raising ghost. According to the legend, this shopkeeper was visited by a strange woman who came to buy candy for a mon for six nights straight, but on the seventh night she ran out of money and gave the man her coat instead; afterwards, a wealthy man happened to pass by the shop, saw the coat and told the shopkeeper that it belonged to his daughter, who had recently passed away. When the two went to her grave to check it, they heard a baby's cry and found out that the woman gave birth to it after her death, and that her coat and six mon were indeed gone. (This six mon is supposed to be the payment to cross the Sanzu River, a Japanese version of the Styx and Charon's obol.)
I think I could think of dozens of non-urban beliefs about Japanese coins, come to think of it. We seem to tend to like things that are said to kin-un, which means "monetary fortune/luck," naturally, and there are quite a few superstitions and legends. For example, there is a popular Shinto shrine called Zeniarai Benten, whose shimizu (springs) are believed to have supernatural powers that multiply coins and paper money when washed in them. And there's also the famous maneki neko, which is usually seen holding a gold koban, although "koban to a cat" is a saying equivalent to the English "pearls before swine." Also, allow me to digress, there are many terms derived from koban and the one I find the most interesting is koban zame ("koban shark") -- which means remoras, since the oval suckers on their heads look like koban!
Quote: "Moneytane"This video, proves through science, that a penny dropped off the Empire State Building would barely sting you let alone kill you - mainly due to the lack of aerodynamic flow and the weather conditions (Buildings have an updraft, many coins would land on a ledge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oIakJekCZU
My favourite legend of haunted coins are the Japanese stories of Ubume ghosts.
Ubume are ghostly females who beg you to go and buy some food/milk for their starving bay, they give you coins - but once they are in your hands they turn into old leaves and dissolve. Most people are suspicious when the coins given are old mon coins (Holey cash from before 1870) or early Meiji coppers.
are we talking copper, steel, zinc or the experimental aluminum ones?
Mon were very similar to Chinese cash coins, low value with a hole and made out of brass or copper type metals. Koban on the hand were gold coins aimed at the wealthy.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Not so much coins, but a spooky tale nevertheless and true.
The Mount Tarawera eruption in Rotorua New Zealand took place on June 10th 1886. This was a serious eruption which killed many people and destroyed several villages and buried the village of Te Wairoa. You can visit this today.
More sinister was Maori had a deep relationship with Mt. Tarawera believed to be a malevolent Taniwha (Monster/Guardian) and this relationship was souring due to the arrival of tourists in the 1870s and 1880s to look at the geysers, mudpools and the Pink and White Terraces. Local Maori initially were quite hospitable and showed tourists around. By the 1880s they had got greedy and began charging extortionate amounts to guide people and often sights were only shown for gold sovereigns (£1 coins of Great Britain) and in some cases, paua shell eyes of carvings were gouged out and the coins placed in.
In time the elders warned the people if the greed and destruction of the sites, due to over tourism did not stop something dire would happen. Tarawera had been silent for generations and had started smoking again. On June 3rd, many Maori and some tourists saw a ghostly waka (Canoe) being rowed by Maori in old time dress and they had the heads of dogs. This was seen as a deadly omen of an eruption or at least punishment by Taniwha - the dogs were the kehua (Ghosts) of ancestors (Tupuna). Finally on June 10th in the early morning, Tarawera erupted killing several, and burying some areas in ash 5 metres thick. The Pink and White Terraces were lost as the lake rose some 10 metres. (It should be stressed June is winter here, although its not snowy - just cold and wet like 10 - 12 degrees celsius)
One elder survived, having being holed up in his hut, he was the elder who predicted it and was found alive but hungry 3 days later.
The fact remains - greed was seen as the cause of this disaster and some sovereigns had a role to play - Of course it was just a long dormant volcano erupting after centuries of lava buildup I guess - but a great tale.
Scientists and divers have just relocated the Pink and White Terraces after 130 years, intact but under metres of frigid water!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
The amazing story of the “Germany wrong map” 1000 lire Italy 1997
In 1997, Italy issued 80 millions of new 1000 lire coins. The map found on this coin was stylized, However, Denmark was shown as part of Germany, The Netherlands was included in Belgium, Luxembourg did not exist and the eastern part of Germany, the former Democratic Germany, was nowhere to be found. It made so much noise in Europe that Italy quickly introduced of a corrected version of the map issuing 100 millions new coins.
This error coin is commonly named as “wrong map of Germany” and a legend raised that Italy withdrawn these coins due to this map error so the price of this coin increased.
Just look at the mintages, 100 million of one (united Germany) and 80 other ... however, the coin with a divided Germany is paradoxically even more common, because, while the other coin went into circulation and stayed there (and is therefore also been retired at the end of 2001), that "wrong" was immediately hoarded (in due to the fake-story-telling that these coins had been withdrawn from circulation and therefore rare) by collectors, with the result that the 80 million coins are still almost all in the collectables market.
Quote: "VieillePile"Good afternoon Ladies and Gents,
Not a legend but some belief in France, somewhere linked to coins.
Presenting a knife is destroying friendship, unless the offeree pays with a 5 francs coin in return.
Well, in general, we must give a small coin when someone offers us a knife. It's the tradition! But why ?
Providing a knife as a gift to a loved one is often a great gift idea, especially as some knives, like the collectible knives we offer, are true works of art. However, we must know that there are many superstitions around the symbolism of the knife.
An object representing virility, particularly by its form, it has long been perceived as the symbol of power of the head of the family. That being said, the most widespread superstition today in the cutlery industry, and especially in the Auvergne (center of France, well known to produce best knifes) tradition, is that a knife is not offered, it is bought. It is rumored that if a knife is offered, it brings bad luck.
The superstition comes from the fact that in the tradition, a knife does not offer itself, it is bought. The knife must result from a monetary exchange.
But why this strange superstition around the knife?
The first explanation is that the knife, traditionally an object of power, can not be transmitted without compensation, especially if it is particularly valuable.
A second superstition is to believe that if the knife is simply offered, it risks cutting the bonds of love or friendship between the two people.
However, if you want to offer a knife while avoiding breaking the rules of this superstition, the tradition offers a solution: it will be sufficient that the person who is offered a knife as a gift pays a symbolic reward (a few cents for example) ) as proof of purchase.
You can offer a kitchen knife or knife set for chefs or budding cooks, a pocket knife to put in a bag or to use during a ride. A pocket knife is often used: to open a package, cut a thread, eat in a restaurant or in the middle of nature. That's France
Thanks for the interesting stories and superstitions so far! I noticed that I’d only mentioned the 5 Yen divination and not explained it there, so let me give it a shot.
As I’ve said, it is a an Ouija-ish sort of numismatomancy, and first, the diviner plucks one single strand of hair of their own, put it through the hole of a 5 yen coin and keep the coin level.
Then the diviner asks a few single yes/no questions that they know the answers to, and see how the coin swings—apparently it does sway when you ask a question, even if there’s no wind, and depending on the way it swings one could determine if it means yes or no.
After that, one just keeps asking questions, about the future (people usually asks at which age they get married), and the coin is supposed to answer.
Why or how I’m not sure, and I don’t even know the origin of this, but I just find it interesting!
There is a German banknote called the Vampire Bill. It is a picture of Albrect Durer and there is the image of a face biting his neck, a vampire. Some thought it was a political statement refering to the blood sucking repayment terms for reparation after the first world war. It is a 1922 10,000 mark bank note.
Quote: "ThePoet"There is a German banknote called the Vampire Bill. It is a picture of Albrect Durer and there is the image of a face biting his neck, a vampire. Some thought it was a political statement refering to the blood sucking repayment terms for reparation after the first world war. It is a 1922 10,000 mark bank note.
Perhaps we should add a disclaimer on this thread, stories of ouija boards and vampires may be upsetting for young children and people who scare easily.
I would also warn anyone against doing seances or using Ouija boards. These are not games, they are occult devices used as portals to speak to spirits from the underworld, and also can be used to release evil spirits and even demons. There is nothing funny or amusing about this, stay away and realise that your Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ is there to protect you and keep you safe from Satan and his demons.
I say this especially as Halloween is approaching and many people find ouija boards, seances, trick or treating and glorifying the occult amusing. It is not, it is evil and a bad influence on the young just like Heavy Metal, Violent video games and Gangster rap music.
I am not even that Christian but take this stuff extremely seriously.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
