what does it mean when a person puts a penny on top of a head stone? my dad died in the war and someone put on

Answer 1

Its an Irish thing...its just to say you have been to the grave, and you will never forget that person who has died..they also can leave small stones...

Answer 2

I always thought that it symbolized that the person buried there was a charitable man/woman.

Like at Ben Franklins grave, people still visit his grave today and throw pennies on his headstone. Every year $6,000 worth of pennies are collected and given in his honor to help the poor.

But I like the answer above about it being a penny for the thought.

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Answer 3

There is a website devoted to the different reasons for this:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/gtc/discuss/106886/

I've googled a bit, and come across several different stories/theories.

One is that Benjamin Franklin's grave has pennies on it because of the "penny saved is a penny earned" adage. And, I suppose, the practice has spread.

Another is that pennies are put on some graves (Frank Sinatra's, in a story I found) as pennies from heaven. (Seems pennies for heaven would make more sense.)

Still another is that in some traditions, there was believed to be a fee due to pass to the underworld, and that these coins are intended to help the deceased pay for the passage.

Answer 4

It could be an allusion to the ancient Greek/Roman practice of putting two pence with the deceased for when they cross over the River Styx in the Underworld...the boatman required payment in order to cross.

Answer 5

I know that in certain faiths it signifies that the grave has had a visitor and that they are in people's thoughts and prayers. (Though usually it's small stones.)Maybe it also relates to luck in some way, and I know that in the past people buried the dead with money, something about help in the next life... I don't know much about that though, because that's not my belief.

Answer 6

I think it is something to leave by the grave instead of flowers that die to tell others you were there...some find pretty stones to leave...in Indian folklore it meant that the dead person was respected.

Answer 7

it means that the person that put it there has your dad in their thoughts.

Answer 8

Maybe it's just to mess with you.

"Hey, Tom."

"What, John?"

"I'm gonna put a penny on this headstone."

"Why?"

"So that one day somebody who knows this person will be so puzzled they will go ask yahoo answers."

Hmmm...seems unlikely, but you never know...

Answer 9

that you wont never forget that person..and best wishes to the family

Answer 10

To speed their soul's way into Heaven