Large Cent Damage? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,928
odentheviking Valued Member United States 425 Posts	Posted 11/12/2010 10:25 am Hello All, As I stated before I collect alot of damaged and holed coins, pre-1860's. I use these for teaching, actually putting them in the kids hands, so I try and pick them up "cheap!". Most of the Large Cent coins I have,(1830's to 1850's), have odd chisel and/or punch marks on them. Some are on the stars or other artwork, but most of these marks/damage have no pattern I can see. I know that when using a chisel to cut something, you want a softer back stop to not damage the chisel. Did people really use Large Cents as a tool stop? Why do they have this damage? p.s. The best Large Cent I ever got was from a co-worker's wife that works in a bank. She was opening a roll of customer quarters and there it was! PB Report this Post to the Staff

Libertad Pillar of the Community Canada 3692 Posts	Posted 11/12/2010 10:32 am They're also used as door locks (wedge a few in between the frame and the door). :) Report this Post to the Staff
upstate Pillar of the Community United States 3283 Posts	Posted 11/12/2010 5:44 pm Check out the post by "nowyouknow" in modern coins/holed coins. It may be what your looking for. Report this Post to the Staff
odentheviking Valued Member United States 425 Posts	Posted 11/12/2010 9:13 pm Thanks Upstate, That was great information. I have about a dozen damaged Large Cents and a couple are holed in the centers and a couple are holed on the top, but I was mostly wondering why there are clear chesil marks on the other 6 to 8 cents when I have not seen odd, no pattern chisel marks on any other type coins. Maybe there is no real answer to this one. Thanks, Paul. Report this Post to the Staff
Pistareen Valued Member United States 309 Posts	Posted 11/13/2010 8:45 pm I heard that some Large Cents that have cut marks my have come from sailors. Called "Chaw Pennies" on board wooden boats if you need to cut something small with you pocket knife, it better not be cut against the wooden railing or deck which splinter. Sailors would hold a cent or penny in the palm of their hand and cut dried tobacco twists or perhaps rope using the coin as a cutting board. Report this Post to the Staff
odentheviking Valued Member United States 425 Posts	Posted 11/13/2010 9:03 pm Wow Pistareen! never heard that one before. But I do know that for early sailors having a knife was a big no-no. Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff
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