I have several coins with holes in them like maybe they were turned into a charm. I've seen pictures of some in the gallery as well. Is there a specific reason people did this and does it affect value? Thanks!
This has been done since ancient times for a variety of reasons: to use as jewelry or a charm or amulet, to carry one's coins on a string, etc. It doesn't happen quite so often in modern times since coins have relatively little intrinsic or commercial value nowadays: they're just "small change" in most places. But when they were silver or gold, that was a different story. It does not "destroy" a coin's value, but it does reduce it. Coins with holes in them are still collectible, and some people even like them, like this slightly insane individual:
pockets were not all that common till after the civil war. ... Also as others have said, they were sewn into clothing, and kept on a string or wire for "safe" keeping until used. Why are so many of the old large cents holed? Many have one hole, but I’ve seen several with two holes in them. The coins were holed for a wide variety of reasons, including such items as putting them on a string for a teething baby. The reader mentioned the story of the coins being sewn into the clothes of Civil War soldiers as a primitive form of a bullet-proof vest. Another use, explaining the double holes, was for a toy. A string was looped through the holes, then the coin was rotated to twist the string. By alternately pulling and releasing the tension, the coin would spin back and forth at high speed, causing a humming sound.
@lordmarcovan and @SilverWilliesCoinsdotcom Thank you so much for those answers! What great explanations and interesting history, which I love. And now I know that the term for those coins is “holed”. I have some really cool storecards that are “holed”. Those fascinate me!
