The following description was prepared by William Gross:
From earliest times, man has tried to protect himself from misfortune by the use of objects which he considered holy or otherwise (e.g., magically) potent. Amulets and talismans are items generally worn around the neck or wrist, carried in a pocket or purse or hung on a wall. They are meant to protect or aid those who carried or wore them. The Hebrew word for amulet, kame‘a, has the root meaning "to bind". Jewish amulets are usually comprised of texts (either letters or graphic symbols) that are inscribed on some sort of material; some may also contain plant matter or precious stones. The texts of amulets usually include holy names that are believed to have the ability to affect reality, along with incantations summoning angels or other magical powers. For the most part, an amulet has a specific purpose: to ease childbirth, facilitate recovery from illness, improve one’s livelihood, and so on, but in the modern world many are also made for general protection.
In many countries there are particular customs of an amuletic nature that are unique to that particular area. So it was a custom in German speaking areas to take a coin or medal and to either inscribe or pierce the metal with the letter "Heh", thus creating an amulet. It has been postulated that this type of talisman is connected with the protection of a child for whom the Pidyon Ha-ben ceremony could not be performed on time, thus exposing the child to Lilith and evil spirits. This was such a strong custom among German Jews that even when they immigrated to the United States during the course of the 19th century, they continued the custom using American coins. There are a number of such "Heh" amulets in the Gross Family Collection.
Inscription: "Heh"