What is the history behind the German lucky penny man made out of marzipan with a gold coin in its butt?

I worked in a "Kosher style" Deli in Northampton Massachusetts in the mid 80s. Our pickles, all our Hebrew National and Boars head, knishes, lox, etc. came up once a week from New York. On at least one occassion we had celophane wrapped, maripan figures of 4 to 5 inch tall, middle European peasants with there pants around their ankles. From their butts emerged a shiny gold coin --in this case cardboard and foil. I believe these were called schmendricks, Yiddish for some particular sort of idiot. We were asked at one point by our bosses, the Brachman brothers, to survey the clientel as to their thoughts as to wether the coin was going in or coming out. Coming out won hands down.

J