Bying Holed Coin As Pendant, Preferebly Ancient Greek/Roman!

It wasn't a common practice in ancient times, because ancient coins tend to be thick and chunky, and ancient peoples lacked our modern tools to quickly drill a neat small hole. But yes, an ancient coin with an ancient hole in it is not impossible to find, and should be cheaper than an undamaged coin. But it still won't be cheap; I doubt you'd find a hold ancient Greek or Roman gold coin for less than $1000.

"Modern" holes are known, but not common; most ancient coins are in the hands of ancient coin collectors or archaeologists, neither of which would be happy to see old coins destroyed purely for jewellery purposes. I have an acquaintance who wears an Alexander the Great silver tetradrachm on a pendant; that coin was found by his grandfather in a bomb crater while fighting in the Middle East during World War I (or so the family legend goes) and has become a family heirloom.

Personally, if all you wish for is "a pendant in the form of a ancient coin" and are having trouble finding an ancient coin already with a hole in it, then perhaps you should consider purchasing a replica ancient coin to use. Not only are they much cheaper than genuine ancient coins, but you won't be destroying a piece of history.

A quick search of the FORVM sales database shows no holed coins currently for sale, and three in the database, two of them appear to be ancient holes and one that looks suspiciously modern.

There's a chap on another coin forum that wears a top hat covered with holed gold coins pinned to it; most of them are modern coins but his centrepiece is a late Roman gold solidus of emperor Zeno. I suspect if holed gold ancients were easy to find, he'd have a lot more of them on his hat.

Thanks for the answers! I guess that´s why I had a pretty hard time finding any..they are hard to find.

Replica is not interesting though, of the same reason that it is not interesting to collect them I guess.. not as fun. I't would feel like wearing a replica watch. However, using the coin is more interesting to me than putting it in a book, and I have told my self only to collect the best, but also only things that I use. That's why I do not care about how it's rarity among ancient coins, being an ancient coin is rare enough. It would be much more fun with a character that I know from history though.

maybe I'll skip the gold and look for something in bronze or silver. It seems like the perfect thing now would be a somewhat large Bronze coin (quarter-ish maybe?) with aAlexanderthe great on it.. And then fix it with some discreet fastener instead of a hole.

Anyone with a fast answer to what I am looking for, and a possible cost?

I'll trade it for advise on buying a vintage watch if you like to know :)