What is the name of the coin placed in the deceased's mouth in ancient Greek culture?

In ancient Greek culture, the coin placed in the deceased's mouth is called an obol. This practice stems from the belief that the obol served as a payment for Charon, the ferryman of the Underworld, who guided the souls of the deceased across the river Styx. Without this payment, it was thought that souls would be left wandering the shores of the Styx for eternity.

The obol, being a small silver coin, was specifically used for this purpose, and its placement in the mouth of the deceased was a significant ritual in ensuring safe passage to the afterlife. This tradition reflects the importance of proper burial rites and the cultural views of death and the afterlife in ancient Greek society.

The other coins listed, such as drachma and stater, while also used in ancient Greece, do not have the same specific association with funerary practices and the cultural significance of providing payment for passage in the afterlife.