My late mother was from North Tipperary in Ireland and always put a silver coin in a new baby's hand and closed it's fingers over the coin. Of course it was then quickly removed again and given to the mother, for fear of the child asphyxiating itself on the coin ! She called it "handseling the baby" and the objective was to ensure that the baby would never be without money during it's life. I continue this tradition, as I was brought up with it.