Long before the blessed holy clothes and apocalyptic tapes, it appears that religious organizations found a way to fleece the faithful. Smith College has reconstructed a coin-operated holy water dispenser designed by the Greek inventor Heron.

The dispenser was used at Egyptian temples and the faithful could drop in a coin to get a squirt of holy water. Just drop a drachma and be saved. Of course, this was when televangelists were just templevangelists. However, it was still non-taxable income and there was a steady stream of holy water to dispense.

For the mechanics and pictures, click here.