In the Living History world, I've seen the practice of putting a period coin into the recess of a pommel on a sword. What is the historical precedent for this, if any? Any reason as to why this would be done, or specifically what type of coins might be used for such purpose?

I thought most of these were cast bronze medallions copying ancient Greek and Roman themes. Why? It was fashionable.

I can think of two Medieval swords with coins in their pommels. In Oakeshott's, Records, XIIIb.2 has what Oakeshott thinks may be a copper Roman coin on each side In the photo, you can see a profiled head.. XV.12 has a copper coin showing the Duke of Urbino on one side (there are indications that there was once one on the other side). One would think that a coin with a Christian theme would be preferred, especially one with a cross, but that isn't the case with these two swords, though in the XIIIb, a cross has been incised over the pommel and the coin surface.

I don't know if this is a real coin or just imitation:
http://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMus...1&sp=F