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Coins may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Halloween, but some carry stories and designs that are eerie, to say the least. From ancient depictions of witchcraft to skulls and UFOs, the designs on these ten coins show a spookier side to the world of numismatics. Here’s a list of ten coins that, for one reason or another, give off some distinctly Halloween vibes.
10. Bronze frog coin from Greek Italy
Ok, so it’s really not that spooky, but frogs and toads are quite uncommon in the world of numismatics. This bronze coin, known as an ‘Aes Grave’ (heavy bronze) piece comes from the town of Tudeer in Umbria, Central Italy. Today, we associate frogs and toads with witchcraft and the occult but in Ancient Greece they were symbols of fertility.
9. The Goddess of Witchcraft
They say silver can ward off witches, but you might not want to use this coin. Witches were as much a part of the occult in ancient Greece and Rome as they were during the Middle Ages. Hekate was the goddess of witchcraft, curses and ghosts. She rarely appears on coins but can be found on a Roman silver denarius of the Republic, as part of the cult statue of Diana Nemorensis. (She’s the one in the centre).
8. Skull Tokens from London
These copper farthings were issued by business owners in London. Two were minted for companies in the City of London and one for a pub in Southwark (now part of London) just south of the river Thames. 17th Century tokens were privately issued money, given as small change at a time when the government didn’t mint enough for the masses.
7. Charon's Obol
This isn’t a specific coin, but more an ancient tradition of the Greek, Roman and Celtic worlds. The custom of placing a coin in the mouth of a deceased person dates back to the 6th Century BC. The coin was to pay Charon, the ferryman who transported souls across the River Styx, to the underworld. In Greece and Asia Minor, this coin was known as ‘Charon’s Obol’, but placing a coin in the mouth was practised across the ancient world, in places which had no obols, with a plethora of different denominations.
6. Moses Mendelsohn Medal
The 18th Century medal minted in conjunction with Moses Mendelsohn’s Phaedon bears one of the most detailed and, arguably, spooky renditions of a skull in the numismatic world. The Jewish philosopher’s seminal work discussed the immortal soul. The skull on this silver medal clearly represents death, with the butterfly symbolising the soul.
5. Wildman Halfpenny
Bigfoot on an 18th Century token? The Summers’ Museum Halfpenny was issued to advertise Richard Summers’ antiquities shop and gallery in London. It boasted the ‘Head of a Wildman from the Land of Jesso’ (the present-day Japanese island of Hokkaido). The exact nature of the Wildman head remains a mystery. Some have likened it to the so-called Sasquatch: legends of wild men in Europe were brought over to the New World and many morphed into legends of Bigfoot. Of course, other parts of the world have their Wildman legends, too.
4. Death of Phillip II
A very spooky Dutch token from 1598. The skeleton holding an hourglass reminds the viewer of the finite nature of life. It commemorates the passing of King Philip II of Spain - the same king who famously attempted to invade England with the Spanish Armada in 1588, and failed.
3. The Face of Death
The face of terror and death. In Ancient Greek mythology Metus was the god of dread and fear. He is depicted with a horrific, long-haired facing head, grotesque grin and a protruding tongue. Metus was the son of Ares and Aphrodite. This Etruscan silver coin was minted in Populonia, northern Italy, around 300 BC.
2. Flying Saucer on a French Token
The so-called ‘UFO Token’ has seen its fair share of tabloid news stories. It’s a French Jeton depicting what, at first glance, appears to be a flying saucer. Tilt the token, however, and the ‘UFO’ is revealed to merely be a shield protecting its wielder from a barrage of spears. Jetons were originally used for complex mathematics but morphed into collectable objects, many of which were used for propaganda purposes.
1. The Skull Tokens of Liege
The most famous skull tokens come from the Belgian city of Liege and date to the 17th Century. Despite the somewhat macabre appearance, the tokens actually commemorate a celebrated event. They commemorated the return of the bones of St. Lambert to Liege Cathedral and are believed to have granted access to communion ceremonies. The design features a skull on the obverse and crossed bones on the reverse. Due to their impressive designs, Liege skull tokens are highly sought-after today.
