For a long time I've been thinking about coins and guitars.
When I was young, 9,10 , I'd ride my little motorcycle a couple of miles through farm land, cross old Hwy 66 to get a soda at a little quick stop gas station. It was a saddle/tackle shop too and they had a black saddle that was loaded with Morgan silver dollars.
I can still see and smell that saddle...
 
I keep thinking it would be cool to have a Strat style that had cool, old coins inlayed and done so that both sides could be seen.
 
Curious what others think. If you saw that guitar would it attract you?  (imagine like the round part of the strat head having a silver dollar mounted in it that could be viewed from back of head too. Where else would you imagine one being?)

Interesting concept. When you mentioned the saddle, I was reminded of an old friend who had a bass guitar that was covered in hand tooled leather, much like nicer saddles. It had this design tooled around the edge of the body. Definitely different. It looked alright considering he was playing in a country western band at the time. I used to bust on him that "it's cool your mom let you make a guitar out of her purse".
 
As to your question, I'm not sure I would be attracted to it or not. I'd sure be curious to take a look though, especially if the coins were unique, such as being from exotic locales.
 
 

Not sure if it would be my thing overall, but fret markers would be a no brainer to me - at least until you get to the higher frets where you might have to figure something out. I could see coins inlaid in knob tops too. 
 
At some point I think you have to decide how much is too much or decide to deliberately just go for it, which I'm not always adverse to. But I always need to visualize things and tinker endlessly before I can decide on aesthetics. How are your Photoshop skills?

A good memory too! It would need to be chambered I think. Maybe one or two Morgans on front, maybe one on the heel. Maybe just let it be a sweet memory. In any case, I wouldn't over do it but what do I know. Metal on guitars seems to be popular but I haven't seen an "over done" guitar that I like (ones with all the inlays). My favorite Les Paul is a plain top R-8 iced tea, no flame, no burst. Classy IMO.... but like I said, I'm so far out of popular what I say doesn't matter.
 
J

Def in the top horn (if it's not already been said).

This kind of subtle.

I've used dimes as caps for control knobs and have a $1 coin (loonie) on the headstock of my bass. I tell people they are there so when I hit rock bottom I'll have buss fare home from the pawn shop. So far never needed, but the next 4 years could change things.

Thanks for your thoughts guys.
 
Randy right away I thought of Waylon. I searched for coin guitars ( in different ways) and didn't find anything so seeing the Tele was cool. I'd sure thought that "just in the right place" may work and so far I'm stuck on the head.
 
Drew I'd been wondering about the fretboard too. Wondering how small coins got and if they were inset would they need a resin sealant- feel and all that. Lead me to think metal bars- real silver bars etc.
 
J - I look beauty in simplicity and believe why my thoughts can't come together on this ...and really why I wanted ya'lls input. If it's semi-hollow then I have the inside to consider too. Made me think...when I was very young I had a friend, a Mexican American, that pointed out he had rattlesnake rattles in his acoustic...a belief that it made the music better.
 
Bapu- locations on the body - I think I need some choice coins and a camera. 
 
 
Seeing rare coins started this. Specifically a buffalo nickle but the silver dollar seems to be the ticket for me. I know the idea may seem weird, lame or a waste but I appreciate your time/input.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
I wouldn't go for the money guitar, but Steampunk can be very awesome!

A couple more examples.