Front: “Memento Mori” (Latin: remember that you will die)
Back: “Your time is limited.”
At a glance
- Theme: the Stoic practice of memento mori, spending your time on what matters
- Good for: a daily habit of reflection, cutting through procrastination, big decisions
- Gift for: Stoic and philosophy readers, fathers, graduates, a friend at a turning point
- Finishes: Antique Bronze and Antique Silver (brass alloy), Antique Copper (solid copper)
- Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA
What memento mori means
Memento mori is Latin for “remember that you will die.” The Stoics used the thought on purpose. Marcus Aurelius reminded himself in his Meditations that he could leave life at any moment, and let that shape what he did, said and thought. Seneca advised ending each day as if your life were already complete.
Neither of them meant it as gloom. They used it to sort what matters from what doesn't. This coin puts that habit in your pocket: the front says it in Latin, the back says it in plain English. Your time is limited.
The design
The front shows a laurel crowned face split down the middle, one half a living man and the other half a skull. Around it runs a clock dial in Roman numerals, so the face sits inside time itself. The back carries an hourglass topped by a skull, a rose growing inside the glass, the sun and the moon on either side, and the words “Your time is limited” around the edge.
On good days and hard days
- On good days, it reminds you to enjoy the time you have and spend it on what matters, not on what can wait.
- On hard days, when you are stuck, stalling or worrying about small things, it puts life back in proportion: your time is limited, so use today well.
Why people carry it
Most people keep it in a front pocket. You touch it when you reach for your keys, and it asks one quick question: is this worth my time? Some keep it on the desk as a check before saying yes to one more thing. One customer wrote that they use theirs as a decision coin whenever they catch themselves stalling. It also starts conversations. People ask about the skull, and you get to explain.
As a gift
It suits someone who reads Marcus Aurelius or Seneca, a father who already has everything, a graduate about to start out, or a friend at a crossroads. It is heavy in the hand, so it feels like a real object rather than a novelty, and the message outlasts the occasion. For keys, there is a matching Memento Mori Key Tag; for a desk, a single coin display.
Specs
- Diameter: 1.54 in (39 mm), about the size of a silver dollar
- Thickness: 2.7 mm
- Weight: about 1 oz (28 g)
- Material: brass alloy (Antique Bronze, Antique Silver) or solid copper (Antique Copper)
- Made: die struck, minted in the USA
- Each coin is antiqued with a special patina so it looks like it has already been in circulation. The patina never settles the same way twice, so no two coins look exactly alike. Small variations in color and shading are normal, and they are what make your coin one of a kind.
Questions
What is a memento mori coin?
A pocket coin with the Latin phrase memento mori, “remember that you will die.” Stoic philosophers used the idea as a daily reminder to spend their time well. People carry it as an everyday carry (EDC) coin, a challenge coin or a desk reminder.
Is it memento mori or momento mori?
Memento mori. “Momento” is a common misspelling; the Latin word memento means “remember.”
Is it morbid?
Not the way the Stoics used it. The skull points you back to life: the time you have, the people around you, the work you keep putting off.
Which finish should I choose?
All three carry the same design. Bronze and silver are brass alloy with an aged finish; copper is solid copper. Choose the color you like best.
Other coins on the same theme
- Life Spiral Coin: for the hard worker who needs reminding that nothing comes along at the end
- Fleeting Time Coin: “What you are I once was,” for milestone birthdays
- Vita Brevis Coin: “You are dust,” memento mori with a faith angle
- Omnia Vanitas Coin: for ego and humility
- Carpe Diem Coin: the bright side, remember to live
- Memento Mori Coin, 1 oz .999 Silver: the heirloom version
Care: keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth. No polishing needed; the aged finish is part of the look.
Original design by EDC Reminder Coins, protected by copyright. We don't take custom orders.