Chocolate coin

A wrapped chocolate coin designed to resemble a British farthing

The same coin unwrapped

Wrapped chocolate coins mimicking coins of several currencies

Chocolate coins or chocolate money are foil-covered chocolates in the shape of coins. They are usually created with milk chocolate and are traditionally packaged in small mesh bags.

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 children's stockings. When children visit a friend or relative they are allowed to take chocolates from the tree, or find them hidden throughout in the house.^[1] In Belgium, a tradition of giving chocolate coins at Christmas began to be observed at the start of the 20th century. These coins are presented wrapped in gold paper and placed in small bags.^[2]

During the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, chocolate coins are sometimes given to children in addition to or instead of the traditional gelt (gift of money), often with a dreidel.^[3] For Chinese New Year, chocolate coins are sometimes now given in place of traditional Hongbao or "lucky money".^[4][5]

During preparation, chocolate planchets are punched out of a long sheet. These blanks are then wrapped on both faces with tight foil wrappers. The wrapped coins are warmed and struck on both sides with coin-like dies, simultaneously embossing a design onto both the foil and the chocolate underneath.^[6][7] The current and former coin designs of many world countries are public domain, making a broad selection available for chocolates.

Gallery

• 
  An assortment of chocolate coin designs
• 
  A two-tone chocolate Euro coin
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  Chocolate casino chips in Hong Kong
• 
  Lunar New Year gifts in Manila

See also

• Food portal

• List of candies
• Play money

References

1. Christmas Tree Traditions in Britain (A British Christmas) Archived 2012-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
2. Scholliers, Peter (2009). Food Culture in Belgium. Food Culture around the World. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-313-34490-9.
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. "How Chocolate Coins Are Made". How It's Made. Discovery UK. 2017-05-19.
7. DE application 1019957B, Seragnoli, Ariosto, "Method and device for packaging chocolate coins", published 1957-11-21, assigned to Anonima G D SOC