Communion Penny

The Communion Penny is a fascinating collector’s item with religious and historical significance that has been attracting great interest in numismatics for centuries. Originally widespread in the 16th and 17th centuries, the communion penny is not a classic coin in circulation, but rather a religiously motivated souvenir or commemorative item that was often issued in connection with the Lord’s Supper in Protestant communities. These small medals or tokens were mostly made of pewter, brass or silver and served as admission tickets to the Last Supper – one of the central sacraments of the Christian faith.
From a numismatic point of view, Last Supper pennies represent an interesting interface between religious cultural history and coinage. The design of these pieces is mostly simple but symbolic: they often feature biblical motifs such as the chalice, bread, the Lamb of God or inscriptions such as ‘Take and eat’ or ‘This is my body’. The reverse side often bears the date of issue or a biblical quotation referring to the Last Supper. These tokens were used particularly in Lutheran communities in Germany and Switzerland, but also in parts of the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Collectors and historians today value communion pennies not only for their rarity and diversity, but also for their insight into religious practices and community structures of past centuries. The condition, minting technique, material used and exact origin play a central role in their valuation. While simple pieces made of tin are relatively common, well-preserved examples made of precious metals or with elaborately designed iconography can fetch high prices at auctions.
Unlike regular coins, communion pennies were not minted by the state, but were often commissioned locally by churches or communities. As a result, many unique pieces or small editions are in circulation, making cataloguing an exciting challenge in numismatic research. In addition, the pennies reflect not only the beliefs but also the political and social structure of their time – for example, through the inscription of the responsible community or references to specific historical events.
For passionate numismatists, Abendmahlspfennige are therefore much more than just religious memorabilia – they are cultural and historical artefacts that offer insights into the spiritual life of the Reformation period. Anyone who takes an interest in these special objects enters a world full of symbolism, spirituality and rare numismatic treasures that have lost none of their fascination to this day.