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Message:: [QUOTE="NormW, post: 2617490, member: 46682"]As a hobbyist black smith for 25 years, I can tell you that nails were typically square, not necessarily because the raw metal started square, but because the smith hammering out the nails made it square out of expedience, while hammering.  Now punches are typically round ( and yes jggonzalez'99's coin was punched, not drilled.  That's why there is an indent on one side and a bump on the other) because square punches can cause weird stress problems in metal when they are used on cold metal (hot punching is another topic).  Square punches are also more likely to get stuck in the metal they are punching. Bing's Quintillus coin is another story.  That jagged hole was not likely done with a normal tool  Either drill or punch.  It looks like it may have been some unusual blow.  Maybe it stopped an arrow point while in some ones pocket. Bing's OTACILIA SEVERA was a neater job.  The punch was used on both sides to even out the indenting and to make a cleaner hole.  But the excess material on both sides shows that it was punched and not drilled. Allegandron's coin was most likely drilled. In general punches were commonly used, because it was quicker and easier than drilling for most people, prior to the late 1800's/early 1900's.  I can make a punch in a campfire, using a rock for an anvil, if need be.  Making a drill is a  serious project.[/QUOTE]