In a village in Poland (Wałki) I was fixed a lawnmower pull string cover. I needed washers so I used 1 grosze coins as washers by poking holes in them with a hammer and nail. They are TOUGH little buggers, but I "got 'r' done"...
I heard people used to nail coins to the peaks of roofs ("rooves?") for good luck...and of course holes for jewlery reasons...