The god Mercury equates to luck, changes and is considered especially fortunate for travelers or gamblers. In Hoodoo practice the Mercury dime is the more desirable of the silver coins, and is used in mojo hands particularly to attract money from trade or gambling.

My lucky dime (pictured) is particularly lucky because it was minted during a leap year, although not particularly rare (1944 dimes are one of the most common.) Also quite lucky as it was found and not purchased.

Other silver coins also have value beyond the face of the coin. 90% silver was commonly used up until 1946 for quarters and nickels and will be easily sorted out from your pocket change by glancing at the side of the coin– real silver coins have no brown ring along the edge (meaning no copper) or if you’re in the practice of carrying a lode stone with you (and who isn’t?) real silver coins are not magnetic.

Carry a silver coin in your pocket and touch it to bring money, wear a silver dime to keep away vexing and curses, or keep one handy to cure a spell of bad luck.

And of course, don’t forget that traditionally one must cross a hand or two with silver for magical favors and divination.

The story (or at least one version of it) is that the cat belonged to an old impoverished man, and one day the cat crossed the path of a nobleman on a journey diverting him with it’s beckoning. The nobleman realizes that he narrowly escaped harm (either by thieves, mercenaries, or natural disaster) by following the cat’s beckoning. The nobleman then rewards the owner (who is sometimes a poor merchant, or sometimes a monk) becoming a patron of his (business or temple respectively.)

Another story is that the cat belonged to a wealthy courtesan, and one day began tugging at the sleeve of her kimono and mewling wildly– this disturbed the man of the house and in anger he sliced off the cat’s head in anger. The head flew up and killed a snake that was lurking out of sight. The courtesan was so grieved at the loss of her cat, and the master so remorseful for killing her faithful little cat that he carved for her a likeness of the cat.

The maneki neko is a symbol of wealth, health and prosperity. Holding a coin which represents 1,000,000 yen is not uncommon.

The coin itself is made from cheap mixed metal and has a nice fake patina. The bats are also foo (the pun of good fortune ‘fu’ and bat ‘foo’ are associated.)

If anyone has any information what the peaches and remaining three symbols mean I’d love to know.