Anybody here collect holed coins? They're more technically referred to as pierced coins to distinguish them from coins that were minted with a hole. Coins are holed after they were minted for a variety of reasons, for jewelry, to use on a keychain, to fashion into a button, and so on. Most dealers and collectors regard them as culls -- junk -- but they can be interesting, and some have considerable market value.

I'm building a cheapo set, though, a set of holed U.S. type coins that I'm able to find for less than $10/coin. The hole has to have been made for a purpose other than to create a holed coin. I know of one collector who holes coins himself just to have holed coins -- not for me. Also with me the coin can't have other serious problems, multiple holes, a ragged hole, or a hole that obscures the date or the head of the obverse device. If anybody has or comes across the following, let me know:

Holed Lincoln Memorial cent
Holed Jefferson nickel
Holed Susan B. Anthony dollar

Thanks.

Reid -- email me at reidgold@nospamnetaxs.com -- delete the nospam part.

I don't collect holed coins but I do have one. An 1855 U.S. large cent I always found interesting. Its has a square hole, which I assume was made by a square hole to hang it up in a house for luck.

Here are some holed / damaged Russian coins up for discussion:

http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php?showtopic=11926

Here are a few examples. (The Edward I continental copy pierced by officials prior to melting down)

I got several holed coin but not the ones your asking about. . . I suggest making your one.

that square hole was made with a nail of that period.

OOOPS, just noticed I said the square hole was made by a square hole? Yep, supposed to be square nail. Getting senile.

I knew what you ment. Does that mean I'm senile too?

Between this and tiff's pictures I may have you beat.

I buy holed coins whenever I can for use in jewelry. The nicest I have now is an 1877 shilling that would have been AU except for the piercing near the rim. It was made into a keychain fob for that reason. I'm fairly used to finding the smaller Charles III silvers like 1/2 and 1/4 reales. Recently I sold a great little charm bracelet loaded with 18th and 19th century silvers including several Spanish 1/4 reales, a George III threepence along with several young head Vickies of the same denomination, and a US half dime.

Holed coins are always welcome in lots I buy if they're silver or gold. I've never pierced on myself, though.

I collect holed specimens where an undamaged piece is out of my price range. As long as the hole is neat, and small, I'll probably buy it. Makes it more interesting, to boot.

I've wanted to have an old worn half as a key fob, but have yet to come across one with a hole large enoungh.

Hmmmm I wonder if they tried to hang it on a round peg...





[sorry]

Ditto about getting great deals on holed coins. Here's one of the best coin deals I've been party to:




Cost me just $10, at a recent Baltimore show. Great toning, a bit dinged and with a little chatter, but nothing to make you want to kick the coin out of bed.

This is a twentieth of écu (Reign of Louis the fifteen) holed. Judging by the position of the hole, maybe the coin was worn as a locket.

A couple years ago at the Numismatists of Wisconsin (NOW) show in Iola someone from Krause publishing was displaying a complete set of pierced Indian Cents that they had recently completed. I believe that it took over 20 years to find them all.

Here's some coins that I have...

It must have been a fairly common practice during the 19th century to pierce coins for jewelry because the most commonly seen are those that Blackhalk displayed -- nice representative collection. You especially see a lot of holed Seated coins. In doing this little holed under $10 type set, the first series I completed was Seated coins, even before Barbers.

Prices are very reasonable (under $10) for most type coins, with the exceptions being Draped Bust silver and earlier material, all gold, 20 cent pieces, and dollars earlier than Morgans. Before doing this under $10 holed set, I did a holed Heraldic Eagle Draped Bust dollar set (all except the 1804!). I've sold all off except the 1799. A bit scruffy:

That's a nice one!

A couple have ended up with a home:

I'm posting a few pierced coin jewelry pieces on the WTS forum if anyone would like a look at them.

I've got quite a few holed coins, but i'll `bore' you with just one of them




PS: what is the WTS forum?

Want to Sell:
http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php?showforum=30

ahhhh...enlightenment! Thanx

I'll relieve you of that boring old thing if you'd like Ian...

do you know when the coin was pierced?

Well it wasn't done in the last ten years. That much I can personally vouch for.

In my opinion it was done 150+ years ago. Possibly even when it was a circulation piece but unfortunately there is absolutely no way of telling for sure one way or the other.