Front: “Pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris” (you are dust, and to dust you shall return)
Back: “Vita Brevis” (life is short) · “Vive ut vivas” (live so that you may live)
At a glance
- Theme: memento mori in the language of the Church and of old Latin
- Good for: Lent and Ash Wednesday, quiet reflection, living fully while you can
- Gift for: Catholic and Christian men and women, lovers of Latin and Baroque art, anyone who wants a reminder to live well
- Finishes: Antique Bronze (brass alloy), Antique Copper (solid copper)
- Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA
The meaning
Pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris are the words from Genesis 3:19 that priests say on Ash Wednesday, tracing ashes on the forehead. You are dust, and to dust you shall return. For centuries they have opened the season of Lent as a reminder that this life is short and that what we do with it matters.
The back answers them. Vita brevis, life is short, an old Latin echo of the doctor Hippocrates. Vive ut vivas, live so that you may really live. The coin works for believers and for anyone who simply wants to stop wasting days.
The design
On the front, a cross rises above a crown resting on a skull, surrounded by flowers: earthly power and beauty, both temporary. On the back, two cherubs hold a crest with a skull at its center, with Vita Brevis above and Vive ut Vivas on a ribbon below. The style follows the vanitas art of old European chapels.
On good days and hard days
- On good days, it reminds you to live fully and gratefully, because life is short.
- On hard days, when life feels heavy or empty, it brings you back to what matters most: you are dust, so live so that you may truly live.
Carry it
Carry it through Lent, keep it by your rosary or Bible, or simply in a pocket as a daily reminder. One customer wrote that the coin arrived the week they had to say goodbye to their dog, and that its message landed at exactly the right time.
Give it
It is a meaningful gift for confirmation, for Lent, for a priest or a seminarian, or for a friend who loves Latin and history. It does not require faith to appreciate; the message about living well is for everyone.
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) 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 does pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris mean?
“You are dust, and to dust you shall return,” from Genesis 3:19. Priests say it on Ash Wednesday when giving ashes.
What does vive ut vivas mean?
“Live so that you may live.” It is a Latin call to live fully and well, rather than only getting through the days.
Is there a Catholic memento mori coin?
Yes. The Vita Brevis Coin carries the Ash Wednesday words and a cross, which makes it a natural choice for Catholics and other Christians.
Other coins on the same theme
- Memento Mori Coin: the classic Stoic reminder, your time is limited
- 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
- 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.