Does Anyone Collect "Holed" Coins?

ToddsPoint

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Mar 2, 2018
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I don't have any, but I've often wondered about these things. More questions than answers.

Is it always silver coins that are pierced? They don't seem to be drilled but are punched with some sort of ice pick type tool.

How would you do it? Lay it on a piece of hardwood and have at it I suppose.

And the reason for holing? Sew it into clothes? Which would be easier...punching a hole in a coin then getting a needle and thread and sewing into clothes... Or, getting a small piece of cloth and fold it with several coins in it and sew it in your clothes? You don't have to punch anything! You've got a needle and thread already it seems.

Then, how about stringing them on a piece of string? Maybe, but most I've seen have a sharp bur where the point went through. Seems it would cut the cord. Wire maybe?

Then I heard it is something to do with voodoo. I have no idea.


I'll be Crusader has enough to make a nice frame. They did it in England too.

What's your thoughts on "holed" coins? Gary
 

Carolina Tom

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I have heard sewed into clothes. I believe that people put them on a string, to keep them from getting lost. They were very valuable in the old days... a dime was like $20 bill.
 

trdking

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Or they wore them around the neck as jewelry. A lot of gold and silver holed coins were punched to "keep the change" The small portion of metal that was removed. The rims of gold and silver coins were also filed to remove some of the metal from each coin for profit. That is where reeded edges came from. If the reeded edge was missing the coin had been lightened.
 

Dozer D

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Usually when I find silver coins, I like to save the "HOLE" coin. Haha, just had to get that in. I'm just waiting to catch a HOLE collection in a dump.
 

Davers

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I collect them.

Esp, when they still have great detail & are at a good price.

I have been known to be a tad strange tho.

OH yea , I also recently bought a Seated Dollar with a hole (other-wise it was XF ) .

I dug a 1910 Wheat cent last summer with a hole in it; tho it was a pretty small one.
 

Slingshot

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People in the 1800's wore birth year coins around their necks. Many have been found in Civil War sites over the years. I don't know if it was considered to be lucky or meant as emergency money. I have collected these in the past, and enjoy them as they have character, plus they can be had at a significant discount compared to the same undamaged coin.
 

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I have found some Spanish Silver with a hole in them. IMHO: probably to wear or not loose. :icon_thumleft:
 

smokeythecat

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I only have a couple, all silver 18th or 19th century. They were holed to place on a string so they would not be easily lost. Pockets were not too popular way back when.
 

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