Wedding coins: what they are and why there are thirteen coins
Almost everyone has seen the wedding coins at a wedding, but very few people can explain what they are. They are given briefly, between the rings and the readings, and then kept in a drawer. This page explains what they represent, why there are thirteen, and how they fit into the ceremony, with the information you need to decide on yours.
See the personalized wedding coins Coins, Corpus, and CeremonyWhy thirteen and not ten or twelve
The number comes from an ancient Hispanic custom and several explanations coexist. The most widespread associates them with Christ and the twelve apostles, which is usually what the priest explains during a religious ceremony. Another, more domestic interpretation, divides them as the twelve months of the year plus one kept for unforeseen events.
Neither of the two is documented as the sole origin, and that is part of what makes it interesting: the tradition is maintained by repetition, not by written rule. What is constant in Spain is the number. Thirteen coins, no more.
The lack of a rule has a practical consequence: there is no mandatory material. Legal tender coins, gold replicas, silver, and increasingly steel have been used. What matters is that they can be engraved and last for decades in a box without tarnishing.
The pieces involved in the presentation
The set of thirteen and what is used to present and hand them over during the ceremony.
What you should know before choosing them
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Frequently asked questions
How many wedding coins are there?
Thirteen. It is the number maintained in Spanish tradition and the one that comes with sets sold prepared for the ceremony.
Are they mandatory in a wedding?
No. Neither in civil nor religious weddings are they required. They are a custom, and some couples omit them while others make them one of the most cherished moments of the ceremony.
Who pays for the wedding coins?
There is no rule. Traditionally, the godparents provided them, but today it is common for the couple themselves to buy them, especially when personalized with their names and date.
Can legal tender coins be used?
It can be done, and it was done. The drawback is that they cannot be engraved and their face value means nothing: they end up being thirteen loose coins indistinguishable from any others.
Where are they kept?
Our set is sent in a fabric pouch, and optionally in a small wooden box engraved with the couple’s names. For the ceremony, a tray or basket is usually used, which is held by the person delivering them.
Thirteen coins understood twenty years later
If you are going to have them, make sure they carry your names and the date. It’s the difference between a ceremonial object and one that is recognized.
See the personalized wedding coins