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 Replies: 54 / Views: 62,513 |
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New Member
United States
34 Posts |
Not sure if anyone else has ever heard of this before, but I was talking with an older gentleman today at work, who also happens to be a fan of collecting coins. He informed me that in the late 1800's early 1900's, when a house was just ready to be finished being built, the contractor would often "hammer" a gold or silver coin in the front door jam (upper part of the door opening) prior to the door being installed. The door would be installed and the coin would be forever tucked away (unless the door was replaced). He claims that he has found coins like this after an old homes were torn down. He said that the coin would actually be hammered in with a nail in the center of it. This was done to bring good luck and fortune to the residents of the home. Not sure if this is unique to Northeast PA or not. I thought it was interesting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1523 Posts |
Yes. I have heard that before as well.Sometimes carpeters would put a penny inside the wall for good luck too.
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Pillar of the Community
555 Posts |
Today they leave half eaten sandwiches and open cans of Coke in the walls. You wonder why you can't get rid of the ants.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1523 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
You see this in old New England homes also.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
851 Posts |
I know a carpenter that discovered a gold "something" set in the concrete of the top stone of a chimney from a house built in the early 1800's. Unfortunately after almost two centuries of wear and tear all you can tell from the coin is that it is gold.  These things were done to bring good luck. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
... one way of starting a collection of "hammered" coins
Peter
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
I am a builder, and people still to this day request to place coins either in the slab or in some other part of the house. The strangest thing I have ever seen was a goat head placed in the slab of a house we built for a Macedonian family. Something to do with an old tradition.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
I am a builder, and people still to this day request to place coins either in the slab or in some other part of the house. The strangest thing I have ever seen was a goat head placed in the slab of a house we built for a Macedonian family. Something to do with an old tradition.
The placing a coin under a concrete slab prior to pouring is really common in many areas. Usually under a new walkway to the front and/or rear of a house. This is supposed to bring good luck in the way of someone bringing money to the home owners. Coins are also placed under the concrete basement slabs, concrete stairwells and even in many other places around a home. Where new or rebuilt roads are being poured with concrete it again is common for people, encluding the construction workers, to place coins under those slabs. I wonder how many other superstitions there are about coins? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1523 Posts |
Find a penny, pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
625 Posts |
Quote:
Today they leave half eaten sandwiches and open cans of Coke in the walls. You wonder why you can't get rid of the ants. Those are not the only things.... Friend of mine was having a house built and noticed a big pile of you know what with some "used" napkins in his roughed in fireplace. Apparently someone didnt want to be bothered by going to the port-a-jon. |
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Valued Member
United States
99 Posts |
Another good place is right above the barn doors. I've found five large cents in that way as the barns were being ripped down. Also look at cornerstones of old homes, they would lay a coin down on the cornerstone and build right over it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
592 Posts |
I have been building in new england for a long time. I have found a great many "Things " inside walls, under doorways, etc. All of the good silver, copper etc. I have found has been invariably lost at entry doors probably from pulling keys out of pockets. I always leave current pocket change in everything I build. That said if when working you are looking for coins or treasure you won't find it or get anything done. Most of my finds are found when not thinking about it.
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
My husband is a carpenter and has found great treasures in the walls. One of the best ones was a playbill for a concert by one of the famous artists of the 1930. I can't remember which one but it was worth a great deal. He always likes to throw in a newspaper or something interesting so someone will think it's a treat the next time around.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Reading about items inside walls it reminded me of my next door neighbor. When they moved in the decided to redo the basement. The entire basement was paneled but look lousy to them. So they started to rip down all that paneling. It appeared that whoever lived there previously used 2x4's for supporting the paneling. Left a lot of room inside those to the real concrete walls which where stil full of paintings, calendars, those hanging types of closths and just all sorts of stuff. Obviously the previous owners just paneled right over everything.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
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Replies: 54 / Views: 62,513 |
Posted 03/10/2010 8:36 pm
