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Chocolate coins, or chocolate money, are foil-covered chocolates in the shape of coins. They are usually created with milk chocolate.

History

As a Christmas tradition, chocolate coin giving is said to be inspired by the deeds of Saint Nicholas in the fourth century, with chocolate coins introduced some time after chocolate's introduction into Europe in the sixteenth century.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, chocolate coins mimic the design of real money; they are traditionally bought around Christmas and are used to decorate the Christmas tree and to fill the stockings of children. When children visit a friend or relative they are allowed to find and take chocolates from the tree as a treat. A variant of this is that chocolate coins are hidden somewhere in the house for children to find, often in the form of a treasure trail.

Hannukah Gelt

During the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, chocolate coins are sometimes given to children in addition or in replacement of the traditional gelt (gift of money), typically with a dreidel.

Chinese New Year

For Chinese New Year, in place of traditional Hongbao or "lucky money", chocolate coins are sometimes now given.

Chocolate coin collections

During "Festival Cuéntalo", held in Logroño in November 2022, the Norwegian non-profit organization "antipodes café" presented the exhibition illegal tender at Logroño City Hall, showcasing their collection of chocolate coins. This installation included hundreds of unique designs mimicking legal tender. However, in some cases, coins with fake or "fantastic" designs were included. For example Rubles with a butterfly on their obverse, or "Argentinian Besos" (instead of "Argentinian Pesos") were displayed at the aforementioned show. According to the authors, "(…) presentation is inspired by coin exhibitions, distancing this quotidian objects from their functionality and users, adding value —in the broadest sense of the term— through a distinguished position, flawless use of materials, lightning conditions, control of circulation, and additional information."

Dĕūro

These Chocolate coins features the common face of the first edition of the 1 euro coin, while the reverse displays symbols of cocoa-producing countries, highlighting their independence from primary chocolate-producing and consuming nations. Each Dĕūro is made from uncertainly traced African cacao, which raises implications of forced and child labor, and is priced at a fixed rate of 1 euro. For its first edition of this conceptual artwork created by antipodes café, a total of 6,000 copies were minted in Madrid on October 12, 2022. In their reverse the featured the design of the ‘SUD’ coin of insurgent general José María Morelos. This Dĕūro was launched in November 2022 at the festival Cuéntalo in Logroño.

See also

• Hanukkah gelt
• List of candies

References

1. "Chocolate: Food of the Gods - Chocolate Coin". www.ownways.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008.
2. Christmas Tree Traditions in Britain (A British Christmas) Archived 2012-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
3. "Hanukkah History: Those Chocolate Coins Were Once Real Tips". NPR.org. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
4. "Chocolate Coins - History, Uses and Traditions Around the World". Bakerycity. 2022-08-16. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
5. "Fortuitous food: Lucky Chinese New Year food and auspicious snacks that you should try in Hong Kong". Honeycombers Hong Kong. 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
6. "illegal tender, 2022". antipodes café. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
7. "Hoby of kings". antipodes café. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
8. "Dĕūro". antipodes café. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2024-10-22.

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