When A Nice Coin Goes Bad...

or when a nice coin is maliciously or intentionally defaced. I've had this 1909 VDB since I was a kid. I had it in a Whitman's folder for years. I probably found it in change, roll hunting or from my paper route...not sure. It would pain me every time I looked at it. Always wondering how, where, when or why this happened. I always thought someone made or used it for jewelry. The tiny holes seem very precise and accurate. Almost like they were made with a jewelers tool or drill bit on a drill press. Besides the holes, the penny itself looked in pretty good condition so I kept it. Just a little something I thought you might like to see.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I don't think the "like" button would be appropriate here.

Where's the "dislike" button?

 

I hate when people to stuff like that to nice coins. I have a nice Columbian Expo. Half dollar that some dip carved there initials in.

 

At least it wasn't a 1909-S VDB! Actually, that one hole under the date could've taken out a mintmark...

In all honesty if it was a 1909-S VDB I'd rather that hole below the date still be there so I wouldn't know any better.

 

If if not for the 1909 year, this could have been John Wilkes Booth's target practice piece.

Too soon?

 

Maybe it was turned into a button?

 

Yep, sad to see.

 

@Jwt708 Maybe it was turned into a button?

Yes, both good points!

 

Looks like a button to me. My grandma used to talk about how hard it was to get some of them. She used to have a big old case with older fancy buttons - just in case. And in 1909 they probably thought the same about a current penny like people think today - it is just a 2015 do what you want to it. It would be nice to know exactly when this was done.

 

I'll bet that someone was planning to make a "cut-out" coin as a piece of pendant jewelry. I remember the first time I saw an artisan making a piece at a crafts show in Chincoteague, VA back in the early 70's. He was using a Mercury dime.

They use a very small drill bit to make a hole in each part of the field, then they use a very, very fine coping saw blade to cut those parts of the field out. Afterward, they polish the rest of the coin.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=cut-out+coins&qpvt=cut-out+coins&qpvt=cut-out+coins&FORM=IGRE

Chris

 

Yes Chris- I guess if you can think of it.......it's been done.

 

Hello,

This thread makes me think about all the beautiful coins I have found (some rare) that have been defaced by adding a pendent holder or the drilling of a hole. I have a wonderful 1800's gold coin with hole in it. Why do people do that? I know in some 12 step programs it is customary to put a hole in a silver dollar for every year of recovery. Not much there after 20+ years LOL. Anyway as an aside how do you grade these coins...especially since they may be the only one you ever get your hands on?

 

You don't. It's over, done, finished, kaput, stick a fork in it! Unless you make a piece of jewelry that's worth more then the coin!?!?

 

Nah, not too soon.

It has been 150 years.

 

Near as I can tell, those holes are a little over 1/32". That's some teenytiny drilling there, and if I had to drill a job like that I'd want to practice on something softer like a coin, too.

 

When I read the title of the thread I was picturing in my mind something like this beautifully toned silver coin...the black sheep of my collection.



Yeah, that was a nice penny. A real shame about the holes. I think you should still keep it. It is interesting, despite the "aftermarket modifications"

 

It's holy! Too bad when they do it to something rare. I recently had a pine tree shilling that was drilled. Also saw a nice toned au 1854-o seated half with a hole recent

 

Ouch!

 

Just a button. There's likely 6 or 8 more of them out there somewhere.

 

I hate to say it but from what I see on the reverse I think it is a SVDB.