I was recently asked to make a monogrammed arras coin bag for a wedding that will be held in Manila this winter.

The use of the arras coins in marriage is a long-standing Spanish tradition of “earnest money” which has migrated to Latin American and Filipino weddings. The coin “arrhae” is often a small sack, which holds thirteen coins. It is handed to the priest who blesses them. The thirteen coins represent the Christ and his twelve apostles. The priest then hands the coins to the groom who hands it to his wife to manage the money for the family. The Arras is given to the bride as a symbol of the trust and confidence the groom has in her, and his willingness to provide for her. By accepting the Arras, the bride symbolizes her trust and confidence in her groom.

The coins need not be real, and may instead be gold tokens or round, flat metal pieces that resemble coins. Indeed the Filipina whose bag I made is marrying a man of English heritage, though they both live in America. They plan to use British one pound coins, making this currently a rather expensive aspect of the ceremony! However, it is not the monetary value which is important, but the representation of wealth, prosperity, and security.

Historically it is said that this tradition of the coins came from a
custom in the Roman Empire of breaking gold or silver arrhae, one half to be kept by the woman and the other half by the man, as a pledge of marriage. They were later included in the legal codes there as well as in the Germanic and Visigothic law. The use of the coins in Christian marriage became well established in Spain in the Middle Ages where they symbolize the good economy of the future home. The groom now handing them over to the bride represents that the material assets of the marriage will be shared by the couple, rather than any sense of payment or dowry.

Here is some additional reading on the Arras in the Philippines:
Unity Coins

Modern Context in a Filipino Wedding

Blessing of the Arras