PREV ARTICLE
NEXT ARTICLE
FULL ISSUE
PREV FULL ISSUE
SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT MONEY
The commentaries on holed coins reminded me of this page from Whitman’s Search & Save: Old U.S. Dimes and Quarters, which features some American folklore about silver dimes. Photographer Dorothea Lange told about a Mississippi sharecropper in the 1930s who wore holed dimes around her ankles to prevent headaches. David Lok writes: I've been reading a few articles in The E-Sylum that are related in ways to superstitions about coinage. I've a small chapter in my book, and replicated on my website as well, that lists several superstitions concerning money. I've scoured several references on superstitions, magic and folklore, and of course asked several superstitious people, to get this list which, I'm sure, is far from complete. Nevertheless, I've always thought it an enjoyable subject. David's web site is The Banknote Den, and his book (available on Amazon) is The Many Faces of Money: A Who's Who and What's What of World Paper Money. His list of money superstitions
is lengthy, informative and entertaining. Thanks for letting us know about it. Here's a selection, but be sure to see the complete list online or in his book. -Editor
Spiders: If you see a small red spider, this is known as a money-spinner and it will bring you luck. To see a small spider crawl on you or on your clothes means that you will have good financial luck. A brown spider in your home is an omen that money is heading your way. Pigs: To dream of being surrounded by pigs means that you will have someone asking you for money. Enemies: To plague an enemy with ill fortune, drop a bent coin into something of theirs, like their pocket, or a bucket, etc. If they do not discover it and throw it away before the sun sets, then they will be so distraught with ill fortune that they will cease to pester you. Black Penny: This was a real coin that existed and was owned by a family named Turnbull in Northumberland, England. The Black Penny was ”Not quite as big as a modern penny, but thicker. It had a kind of raised rim or border, and seemed composed of copper or zinc.” This penny supposedly cured madness in cattle. This was accomplished by dipping the coin into South running water. The water was then drawn off and given to the cattle to drink. This coin was loaned out quite often, and was eventually lost when being returned by mail around 1827. Newborns: The first gift made to a newborn is often a silver sixpence. It should be placed into the right hand, and this is not only done for good luck, but divination of their future money management can be ascertained from the child’s actions: If held tightly, the child will save money - or be a miser; If held loosely, the child will be generous; if dropped, the child will be a spendthrift. Money Spell: To ensure that you have money in your purse, you should place three leaves each of blackberry, bergamot, and bistort inside it. To read the complete list, see: For more information on the book, or to order, see: To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see: Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
|
