Hero of Alexandria described a Vending machine circa 100 BCE. He spotted a coin-operated device that dispensed holy water in an Egyptian temple.

Additional Information:

• Hero of Alexandria – Wikipedia
  Much of Hero’s original writings and designs have been lost, but some of his works were preserved in Arabic manuscripts.
• Heron of Alexandria | Greek mathematician | Britannica.com
  Heron of Alexandria, also called Hero (flourished c. ad 62, Alexandria, Egypt), Greek geometer and inventor whose writings preserved for posterity a knowledge of the mathematics and engineering of Babylonia, ancient Egypt, and the Greco-Roman world.
• The ancient invention of the steam engine by the Hero of Alexandria …
  In our society today we are often surprised and impressed by the advancement of technology and engineering, a major characteristic of our civilisation. However if we look back more than 2,000 years ago, we can find mechanical marvels and incredible feats of engineering that were ahead of their time. Many became lost to the pages of history, only to become reinvented just a few centuries ago. This includes the first modern of the steam engine.
• Heron Of Alexandria – Mathematician Biography, Facts and Pictures
  Many Greek scientists were known by the name Heron or Hero however the multi-faceted mathematician, scientist, inventor and engineer mentioned here is the ‘Heron of Alexandria’ who was born in 20 AD. He specialized in the fields of mechanics, mathematics and physics representing the works of the Hellenistic tradition in Science.

Date:
      100 BCE
Name(s):
      Hero of Alexandria
Occupation:
      Greek Mathematician, Engineer, and Inventor