Why Do Some Silver 5 And 10 Cents Have A Hole Punched?

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Author	Replies: 2 / Views: 9,382
mbird Valued Member United States 62 Posts	Posted 05/18/2011 2:23 pm I saw a box of silver 5 cents at a show and some of them had a hole punched in them near the rim (the hole was squarish not round so seemed like a punch more than a drill). I saw it on a few 10 cent silvers too. Was that something that people did in the early 20th century (maybe to string their coins)? Does anyone know the origins of these holes? Thank you! Edited by mbird 05/18/2011 2:24 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Ugly Pillar of the Community Canada 1733 Posts	Posted 05/18/2011 2:27 pm They were driven with old nails, old nails are often square and not round. I have many examples of holed fishscales and Victorian dimes made into jewelry and depending on the device at hand, sometimes the holes are square. Report this Post to the Staff
glenzy1 Pillar of the Community Canada 1554 Posts	Posted 05/20/2011 1:04 pm I the 20th Century trappers/fisherman and outdoorsman were known to carry their money (coins) on strings as a result of a lack of pockets in their outer clothing. Therefore by making holes in the soft silver metal of the 20th Century coinage they would be able to tie a string around their waist that would allow the coins to slide into the string and be carried this way. This is why the vast majority of the coins you see on E-bay with hole punches are between the years 1858-1910. If only those coins could speak! Glenn Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 2 / Views: 9,382

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