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Message:: [QUOTE="10gary22, post: 939877, member: 23626"]I have had a 1868 Shilling for decades that is holed and damaged, yet has become one of my favorite coins. The hole was well done with each edge reamed and removed of any sharp edges. I think it was meant to accomodate a ribbon. This given to a young girl as a piece of jewelry. Then at some point on one side the initials W J W       M R W   were scratched crudely with what likely was a penknife. The lines are thin and several scratches were made to form each letter. Obviously, whoever made the scratches was either unskilled with tools in an era when more things were done by hand, in a hurry or both. Since the initials are the same for the last name, I have wondered did the young woman give it to her groom or a sibling ? Why the rush ? A call to arms maybe ? This beat up damaged piece of silver has a history. It meant something to someone more than sitting hidden from view to retain it's perfection and to protect it from theft or loss. An Uncirculated Morgan is a beautiful trophy, but it never bought a cowboy a rope, a housewife groceries or slid across the top of a bar. Specimens of nearly every rare US coin can be bought on eBay for little money and they look pretty good. And you can display them without a lot of fear of great loss. IMHO[/QUOTE]