Hi!  I have entered this discussion a little late so forgive me if this
has been mentioned already.  Regarding the comment about wearing coins, I
also disagree that Native Americans were the only ones wearing coins.  I
have spent 5 years excavating the remains of a Chinese community in
California and have found numerous coins (both Asian and "Euro-American")
drilled with holes or actually attatched to something else to be worn.
It is my understanding coins were worn for luck.  Hope this helps.
 
Melissa Farncomb
U.N.R.