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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,443 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
732 Posts |
In a bag of coins I received today were these two 1860 Indian Head pennies Holled  . If only!! Why would someone do this to a poor defenseless penny  . Even in very poor condition they would be worth decent money, but now only scrap.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6514 Posts |
Somebody really went to town on the first one posted. Geesh!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
987 Posts |
Can anyone put a ballpark on when the holes were made? If they are VERY old it is more forgivable.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I can see the one on the left was probably worn around some ones neck but why would they attempt to put a bunch more holes in that coin ? |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
I think it might have been used for target practice.
I did similar things with my pals in primary school, starting off with a penny, working down to a halfpenny, then to a farthing (which is slightly larger than a cent).
Edited by Pertinax
01/31/2020 8:24 pm
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Moderator
 United States
34408 Posts |
Just well-loved.  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I have read where sometimes coins were drilled and used for washers.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Why would someone do this to a poor defenseless penny . Even in very poor condition they would be worth decent money, but now only scrap. Well when it was done they were probably only worth a cent, and they still are. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Yes way, way back in time those were only worth a cent so defacing them ment very little.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1308 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
188280 Posts |
Oh my!  |
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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
From what I understand, coins were used in many different applications back then. I've dug a large cent while metal detecting, and it had 2 holes in it to be used as a button. They were also used as jewelry, and even looped on a piece of string or twine to keep them all together (similar to the ancient Chinese coins). This is all stuff I've heard from the metal detecting community.
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Valued Member
Canada
363 Posts |
as a detectorist I can back up mm on this one
holed, counterstamped,mutilated, vandalized, graffiti, re-purposed,corroded but never pristine are some of the ways you find coins in the ground (the ultimate wild!)
those indians would be typical of some finds I've made, and maybe that's why detector finds include many of this kind of thing...they get tossed away in the assumption they are now worthless because of the damage
all fascinating but sadly are now just great conversation makers
I'd gladly dig up one of those any day of the week
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Looks like somebody made a "HOLE in ONE!" Seriously though, it seems to me that machinists often used cents to test and ply their skills. Copper nickel cents, hard metal that they are, might serve to test the quality of a drill bit. Quote:
From what I understand, coins were used in many different applications back then. I've dug a large cent while metal detecting, and it had 2 holes in it to be used as a button. A two-holed large cent possibly served as a button, but other uses it may have had. Some were strung as whizzers. The looped coin would be repeatedly turned on the string until tight. Then, the ends would be pulled so that the coin would spin and create a whizzing sound .... I'm old, but this was long before my time! Edited by ExoGuy
02/06/2020 08:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2233 Posts |
I remember seeing a large cent that was in something that looked like a pizza cutter, but it wasnt a pizza cutter.
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Moderator
United States
188280 Posts |
Quote:Looks like somebody made a "HOLE in ONE!"  |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,443 |
Posted 01/31/2020 7:23 pm
