Why did Greeks put a coin under the tongues of the dead?

Answer 1

Actually, they would put a coin in or on a dead person's mouth,

to allow them to pay the ferryman Charon to take them across the river Styx

to Hades.

Answer 2

The ancient Greeks put coins on the eyes of dead people in order for them to be able to pay Charon, the ferryman, to take them across the River Styx.

Answer 3

I believe it goes back to a tradition that so they can cross the river Styx in the afterlife, but they'd have to pay a ferryman to cross.

Answer 4

because they are stupid