it was cheaper to use a old wore out large cent to drive a nail thru than to buy ready made roofing nail covers to drive nails thru to seal the holes in the roofs made by using nails to hold down the wooden shingle type tiles --the hole is in the center for a reason * to help cover the hole and keep water from leaking in --often holed large cents are found were old home of the correct era were at -- many times they were simply to far away to get "proper building supplies" and just made do as well ..old coins were often made into buttons , roofing tack seals and many other things like "whizzers" a two holed coin and string -- kids toy