I have a 1798 large cent with a small hole drilled in the center. The coin would probably grade VG or F if not for the hole (why would somebody do this? why???) I realize that because of this hole, the coin has very little numismatic value. However, I don't collect as an investment, and I would like to do something, if possible, to fill this hole and improve the appearance of the coin for my own collection. Any suggestions? I would post a picture, but I'm not at home where I can scan the coin. Maybe I will later if it will help.
First of all - are you sure the coin is genuine ? If not - it's not worth messing with. If it is - the holes can be plugged & filled. But it takes someone who really knows what they are doing to do it.
Seeing the hole may help determine why it was put there. One thing that was often done in the past was to attach (usually nail) a cent (or token) to a barn as a symbol for good luck. If yours is truely drilled however, this would not likely be the reason. Remember, if the hole was made long ago, the coin may have only been worth one cent to that person that holed it.
Thanks for the input. I'm relatively certain the coin is authentic. I bought it about 10 years ago when I was in high school from a mail-order dealer. It was advertised as a cull, but I was excited to have something minted in the 18th century, so I didn't care. I didn't pay too much for it. I don't know if the hole was drilled or nailed. I didn't figure one could drive a nail through copper that thick, but I don't claim to know everything I will post a pic when I get home.
Very true lawdogct. Old coins and tokens were used as good luck symbols, buttons, gears, other machinery parts, gun sights, and on and on. They made do with what they had. http://members.fortunecity.com/cwtokenman1/holed1.jpg
