A "Hole" Lot Of Copper

A. Gentlemen in my coin club has a holed large cent with teeth cut in the edge that was used to replace a missing gear in an old clock. You never no what some of these coins have been through!

I love them always fun to learn what variety they are !!

To tell you the truth; I actually like your collection of holed large cents. something different for a change. the history behind them would be amassing . especially if they are really old.
Tony

The Canadian version...more than 150 and I tossed two U.S. Lc's I had sitting around on top. What a shame, a few of these would have been AU/MS until they were polished with 200 grit.

That is what got ne into early cooper those old junk coppers. wish I still had them.

Many a counterstamped coin was holed with some intent ....



John Zettler is listed in the 1872 NY City Directory at 88 Norfolk Street. His business was therein was simply described as "guns." Previously, in the 1850 Mercantile Directory, he was listed as a gunsmith in NY County.

Thanks to online research, I was able to gather some interesting history about John. Born about 1830, he arrived in the U.S. in 1837. His family was from Marburg, Germany. An accomplished gunsmith, John made a pepperbox pistol that was later patented by Blunt & Syms. A mark that's identical to this counterstamp appears on an 1850's era large bore rifle that John made.

During the Civil War, John enlisted in Company H of the NY Third Infantry on 7-13-1863. He was appointed as artificer or weapons' craftsman in the field. He was mustered out in Washington, D.C. on 8-22-1865. Following the war, John and his brother had businesses at various addresses in the Bowery. The Zettlers produced percussion and breach-loading target rifles. Many Germans in those days formed shooting clubs and held contests for marksmanship.

As this host coin is dated 1865, John likely applied his gunsmith mark during his days at the Bowery shooting gallery. To date, this is the only example of the Zettler counterstamp, listed by Brunk or Rulau.

Here's a link to the Zettler Bros. photo gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/halp/zetter_bros&page=all

I recall coin charm bracelets were popular at one time; I think my grandmother had some, and I seem to remember girls still wearing them in the 60s. You can still buy them. Also, didn't people used to nail coins inside entrance door frames for good luck? I read a thread on that a while back, perhaps on this forum. Seems like the ones with square holes would be likely candidates for that, from the old square nails.