From family history and stories told "here."

When early ancestors came from the old country to the US they endured a long boat ride to these shores. There was not much they could bring with them to start a new life in a strange world. They could not afford to transport a Hereford or a cord of wood or transfer land or bring machinery with them on the boat and chances are they would never get back to the old country again. So what could they use to convert a few meager holdings from the old country /currency to transport with them to a new world with much better opportunities ?

A few coins made of precious metal were sown deep into their clothing to transport that value to a new system filled with better opportunities.