Holed Ancients - Round Holes vs. Square Holes?

Judging from the scratches I would suggest an awl, gouged out each side until they met in the middle.

 

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Perhaps an old carpenter's tool? ..... ummm, or perhaps an old knitting needle?

 

I work with metal everyday. Aerospace metals.
I'd say NormW is absolutely correct. I can't a anything he explains it well. Except to add my agreement with him.

 

That's what I thought at first, but I cleaned it thoroughly. (It came in a batch of uncleaned coins years ago.) Even checked it under a microscope. It's all the same metal, no plug.

I think the coin was probably drilled. If there's no exit hole, there's no place for the displaced metal to go except out the channels in the drill bit. What I can't figure out is why someone would drill halfway and then stop.

 

Hmmm, maybe? ... but I doubt it (worst drill ever if it leaves a ridge around the surface)

I'm sure that was merely somebody driving a piece of metal into a coin and making a circular motion until they were satisfied (try doing it with a chopstick and a piece of cheese)









... mmmm, cheese (my dogs and I loved that experiment)

 

I have a Briot shilling of Charles 1st that's holed. Touch piece I assume. Does it class as ancient? If so I'll post it.

 

Not ancient, but post it anyway. We'll like seeing it.

 

These threads are fun! You get to see a lot of coins that are interesting for thier uniqueness instead of their dollar value. You also learn new stuff! I just picked up this Gordian III piece on vcoins. It really doesn't "fit" with my collection, but it was affordable, had nice patina, and I love big cats.



I thought it looked like someone carefully worked both sides with a punch because the hole starts fairly round but looks ragged inside. The patina also extends to the inside of the hole, so I'm thinking it was made in antiquity.

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Its a 1643-44. Charles 1st Briot Milled Shilling. York mint. Lion Mintmark.

 

Nice piece!

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ACHAIA, Aigai. Late 5th-early 4th century BC. Triobol or Hemidrachm (Silver, 15mm, 2.63 g 8). Forepart of goat to right; above, A. Rev. Head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy-wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 388-9.

Interestingly, in this case, the one that pierced the coin whished to highlight the goat instead of the ('human') head of the god.

 

A little bit off-topic (but it is in my field of interests):
The case of Athena Alea in Tegea is very interesting. It illustrates the association of a local divinity (Alea) with a panhellenic divinity (Athena).
Alea is an arcadian divinity that has been first worshipped alone (without any association with Athena). It is attested in inscriptions found in Mantinea and Tegea. Then (probably in Classical times) Athena has been associated with Alea but as the second divinity (= epiclesis). Herodotus and Euripidis called her 'Alea Athena'.
From the beginning of the 3rd and 2nd century BC (or a little bit latter), there is a subtil change and we find occurences of an 'Athena Alea' (on coins for instance) but without the disparition of the naming 'Alea Athena'.
This association was probably facilitated by the common characteristics of both divinities. Although we know very little about Alea, it should be linked to the notion of 'refuge' (while Athena is the goddess that protects by weapons).

My apologies for the digression...

 

Hey Prokles, thanks for the history lesson. That was really interesting.

My thanks also to everyone else. I've just recently started following this forum and it's been a lot of fun to see everyone's coins and read all the comments. This is a great place to hang out!


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This one has a square hole, but I din't think it coutns...

One of the first square-holed coins of China:

 

The reason why all these coins were holed has imho 3 reasons:

first: if the hole was neatly done and near the edge of the coin it could be worn as a necklace .

second: if the hole was more near the centre , roughly hammered round or square , it was nailed to a doorpost of somebody's home temple or whatever building to keep the bad spirits out.

third: centre holes round or square made at the mint , to carry the coins together on a string, ""old style wallet""

here's a bunch of Indonesian coins on a string:

 

Andres2 , some good points. Mine i think was possibly a touch piece or worn by a Royalist supporter after the execution of Charles 1st.

When i was younger i remember seeing the odd bun penny nailed to fence posts for luck or as a token to ward off evil spirits. Similiar fashion to placing a coin under the threshold stone of a house. These often turn up in renovations.

And yes it was common practice in England anyway to hole hammered coins and place them on a string to prevent loss. I've seen lots of holed pennys from Elizabeth 1st , Charles 1st and Commonwealth coinage holed for this reason, especially the smaller coins.