Holed Ancient Coins, Why Were They Done?

Why assume the holing is contemporaneous with a time when the coin was in circulation?

As jewelry (earrings, bracelets, belts, pendants, etc) or ornamental decoration (medallions, bangle insets, noisemakers, etc) they could have been holed and put to use any time. We have nearly 2000 years to play with. Hoards have been stumbled upon as "buried treasure" for centuries. Excavated coins still had a decorative function even if they no longer had fiscal value, and some had value as melt 1000 years ago even as they might today.

Echizento - thanks for the welcome.

I can answer your question regarding the countersink, on the coins where the clean countersink is close to the diameter of the through hole. (Some seemed to be this way - I realize that others are a larger diameter countersink then the through hole). By viewing the pics provided, I can tell that these are "punched" holes. On the back, you see the rupture petals of metal where the punch exited.

On the Face of the coin, the punch will drive into the metal - straight down - until the metal has reached its tensile strength (point where the metal would rather shear than to compress any farther). It will then shear the plug of metal exactly under the punch. This will create the impression that there is a clean countersink down to a certain depth. IF they had had a holed material (hole the size of the punch) under the punch, then that plug of metal would have cleanly sheared out, leaving a clean rim. Since they didn't have that backer plate under these coins, then that plug just ruptured out, leaving the petals

Interesting point, but I'm going to have to disagree. If the coin was punched you would expect to see some type of deformity to the coin along with a raised lip of metal where the punch exited. That's not the case here the edges are smooth and flush with the surface. Difficult to see on the picture, more evident in hand. This still makes me believe it was drilled. Of course I can be wrong so I would like to hear what others think. you can be right.

i purchased my first holed coin the day I saw this thread, I have it now so thought i'd come back at post it. it's a nice looking sassanian coin, I didn't even notice the hole when I first saw it. placed in the position it is, it didn't really detract from the coin for me.

I think that some holes in ancient (mostly thin) coins, are much more more recent than the coins themselves.

It is a tradition that brides throughout the Middel East, often wore holed gold and / or silver coins strung together, as an adornment at the their wedding ceremony.

I think this Galba Sestertius is the only holed coin I have.

thanks MV...and likewise, that galba sestertius is pretty sweet!