If You See A Coin On A Loved One’s Gravestone, You Need To Know What It Means

Visitors to cemeteries often leave coins on the headstones of military members, a practice rooted in the Roman Empire. Each coin denomination holds distinct meaning, particularly for Canadian Armed Forces veterans.

A penny signifies the visitor’s presence.

A nickel means the visitor attended boot camp with the deceased.

A dime indicates shared service or experiences.

A quarter shows the visitor was present when the soldier died.

This tradition became common during the Vietnam War, offering a respectful way to honor the fallen without igniting political debates. Vietnam soldiers sometimes left pennies as a “down payment” for shared camaraderie in the afterlife.

Today, coins, especially pennies, are left on military and non-military graves to show that the deceased are remembered. Other small mementos, like plaques or stones, serve the same purpose: letting families know their loved ones are not forgotten.