This age old tradition commenced in the fourth century, when St. Basil the Great, the father of philanthropy, wanted to distribute money to the poor in his Diocese. He commissioned women to bake sweetened bread, in which he arranged to place gold coins.  Thus the family in cutting the bread to nourish themselves were pleasantly surprised to find the coin.

This tradition is very much alive in our Orthodox homes and churches.  The one who finds the coin is considered to be blessed especially for the New Year.