Navia Aut Caput: The Tradition of Heads or Tails
We’ve all done it at one point or another, flipped a coin. Whether its to see who gets the last slice of pizza or decide what…
Love and Lead: A Story of Love Tokens
Alfred Lord Tennyson said it best,“‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Love is an experience that transcends time…
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A Whole Lot in Liberty’s Pot- a History of the Potty Dollar
The United States has been embroiled in war for the past several decades, and yet most Americans live without knowing it experientially. We hear about it…
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Hobo Nickels and “Big Nose” George Parrot
Take no offense at the title. The term ‘Hobo Nickel’ is one of endearment, and it refers to a rich artistic and cultural phenomenon popularized in…
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The Strange Sixpence of St. Inigoes
In 1984, an archaeological collection at St. Inigoes, a long-standing Jesuit site in Maryland, uncovered an unusual coin: a 1596 Elizabeth I sixpence that had…
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The Sun and Its Coins
The sun has formed human mythology and symbolism since the beginning of history. It’s no surprise that sun symbols and imagery have appeared on…
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The Labyrinth Coins of Knossos
Labyrinths are a familiar icon in the western world. We know the story of the great Labyrinth of Minos, home of the minotaur. The…
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An Unusual Tradition Continues at This Grave
John Wilkes Booth is undoubtedly one of the most notorious names in American history. If you visit his grave, you’ll have to find it first.…
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The Appeal of Coin Trees
One of the most fascinating folklore traditions may also one of the newest: the coin tree. Contrary to popular assumptions, coin trees seem to…
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Past and Present Mix in a Coin Rite
It’s long been thought that rituals involving the sacrifice of a coin (wishing wells, coins on the eyes of the dead, etc) date back to…
