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In a sense a ritual practice, coins are used by nurses and/or undertakers to close the eyes of people who have recently died. In Europe there is or was considerable ritual, for example with the Italian royalty a black cloth thing similar to a blindfold was used in tandem with two gold pieces- thus the Eyes of Queen Margherita were closed up- by either family members or nursing sisters ( nuns). obviously the types of coins vary as to the importance of the person involved. these are conserved as family relics and are not buried with the deceased. As thiis is connected with dead bodies- there is a loose paralell to Voodoo and related practices. Mercury dimes were popular for this task as they are small and easily concealed- and Mercury was the messenger of the Gods!

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15y ago

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