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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,058 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
757 Posts |
have any of you noticed it's a lot more common to find a drilled hole in an older coin? since I started searching about 4 months ago, I've found a good little pile of coins with drilled holes in them: War Nickels, Franklin halves, Walking Liberty halves, old Washington quarters. I'm assuming maybe people made 'emergency necklaces' with them or something, but was wondering if any of you have any real knowledge of the phenomenon. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
524 Posts |
This topic was discussed about a week ago. I think jewelry,good luck charms over doors,strung together so as not to loose them,identification for civil war soldiers were some of the most talked about.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
Actually, I've seen holes in older coins, but not in the newer stuff you are talking about.The holes I've seen have all been in the 1700' and 1800's.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have a few 19th cent. Half Dimes and dimes with holes. I usually get them from dealer's junk boxes for not very much. A long time ago, the general public was not into numismatics as we on the CCF are. So I guess I can understand the reason for the holes. Even though I have some of these by my own decision, they are still somewhat disappointing to own. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
667 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I started reading about the holed coins, but I got suckered into reading about ancients.
I have been into ancient coins for a long time. (I am not quite a contemporary of them!), but I enjoy reading on the subject.
A very informative read.
Edited by sel_69l
11/21/2010 12:53 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
Over the years I have acquired a number of holed coins. Many of them are 20th century coins. Most of the coins came from one purchase at a garage sale. A few years back I purchased a key wallet. Instead of there being a key attached to each hook, someone decided to drill a hole in every denomination from the Lincoln Cent to through the Franklin half. Every coin was pre 1963, I guess the previous owner needed an example of each circulating coin. One of the nicest holed coins I own is an ancient Roman Solidus of the Emperor Valens. I have no way of knowing when the hole was made. Due to the hole position and a gold ring through the coin, it was probably worn around the neck or it may have been attached to a charm bracelet at one time. Either way they are an interesting area of collecting at an affordable price. |
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New Member
United States
18 Posts |
I was told by some collectors and dealers many years ago that some of the older holed coins,usually dollars and higher denominations, were from sailors who wore them inorder to pay for their last rites.Fact or fiction?Never followed up on it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
628 Posts |
mkfarm, thanks for the link.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
757 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
163 Posts |
Someone told me that the owners of shop would make a hole in the first coin they made in that shop, then they'd wear it like a good luck charm. According to the person I heard it from, it's for this reason you can still find coins from ancient Greece (and others from that era) in pretty good condition.
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
I think a lot of people holed their coins in the 18th and 19th centuries so they could string their them to keep the coins together and safe. Some of the coins were pretty small and could be lost very easily in a large pocket or purse. I don't think they were holed to wear as jewelry so to speak, but probably strung around the neck or ankle in a bracelet type set up. I haven't seen any holed coins of the 20th century so, it looks like that way of keeping them safe was unique to the times.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1042 Posts |
Quote:
I think a lot of people holed their coins in the 18th and 19th centuries so they could string their them to keep the coins together and safe.  I also wonder how many pants actually had pockets back then.  Keeping them safe around the neck with string/rawhide/horsehair makes sense to me. Here's a couple of my favorite holed coins in my 7070...     Nicks, dings, holes, scratches, initials, and general "wear-n-tear" are what attracted me to these coins... They have history...and every time I look at them I'll always wonder as to where they've been. |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,058 |
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Posted 11/20/2010 2:52 pm
