Just out of curiosity, how much does a hole detract from a coin's value. I'd assume it's pretty substantial, right? I bring this up because quite some time back I won an eBay auction on junk silver and the guy said he was happy about my repeat business that he'd throw in a bonus. The bonus turned out to be a pretty nice looking 1827 large cent. I'd grade it about a 20 or so if not for the hole right in the middle. It's a pretty good sized hole, too about half the diameter of a pencil. I don't have it with me at the moment so I can't add a picture but would I be right to assume it'd go from being worth $85 (in a VF-20) to less than $8.50 with the hole?
catbox: Holed coins are very collectible, I have a friend who is working on a complete type set of holed coins. (Original only). And Joel Edler, of Numismatic News, put together an Indian cent set that was holed. As for value, it would depend, but normally the holes are at the top of the obverse. Holed in the center, and that large is unusual, but the value may be close.
I more or less assume that a holed coin is worth about 25% of what the same is worth in the same condition but without the hole. A coin with a small well-made hole is probably worth more than a coin with a large messy one.
Would also depend on the variety. If it was a N-10 it might still be a $15 - $20 coin. A N-12 maybe even a little more. Without the hole a VG N-10 would be around $200, a N-12 around $400. There are less than 45 N-10's and and around 20 N-12's known, so even one with a hole is collectible.
I have a holed coin in my collection. It's an 189X Liberty head nickel in pretty good condition. The hole was made through the last dgit in the date as if to display the V on the reverse. . It was done very well and still looks great. There is some wear on the rim near the hole so you can tell it was hung on something for a while. I have pics but can't upload it right now. I really hope it isn't an 1894 or 1896. I wish i could see that last digit
generally they are worth about 20-40% of the same grade of coin without problems. These rules aren't hard though. for example a lo grade holed 1916-D dime or 1909 SVDB cent in AG details, holed condition would have a price higher than 40% (likely more than 50%) of an undamaged example's price. This is because there is great demand for those coins in low grade and someone willing to finish their collection with an AG3 example is likely to be willing to save a few more dollars and accept a holed coin. On the other end of the spectrum is an uncirculated details 1901 Morgan. This is a classic example of a coin that is very scarce in Unc, but common in AU and below. If one of these was holed it would have a value far less than 20% of it's equivalent unholed coin, because the person collecting unc Morgans would have no interest in having a holed unc details 1901. Hope that helps! Chris
sometimes, other times because they can, or in some crazy people's situations because they want to complete a set of holed coins. :whistle:
Now who would do that? Here is a short tread on the matter of holed coins... http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=18553&highlight=holes+coins
I read that back in the old days when pocket change used to buy a lot, people would hole their coins so they could tie them together with string. Losing a dime was a big deal then. I think this came to light after the body of a civil war soldier was dug up with coins in his pocket tied with string. If i can find a few more holed coins from the same era, i'm going to do the same and put them next to my WW2 coin display
this is true. Pockets are a modern invention and before they were common in everyday clothing coins were strung together with some regularity to prevent losing them. This is particularly true of trimes.
I have a very nice 1873 Indian Head cent (the closed 3 variety) in solid VF condition with nice brown color. However, someone placed two small holes through the middle of the coin to use it as a button. I paid $1.50 at an auction because i thougth it was an interesting piece.
As i was reading this thread, i remembered reading another way people would carry their coins , it was in a tobacco bag..nickels carried in a tobacco bag for a extended length would turn a reddish color..
One of the coins I inherited from my grandfather was a holed 1847 large cent. It is one of my favorites, as I think of him whenever I see it. I'm nearly 40, and still get nostalgic about him.
