From time to time you will come across an ancient coin witha hole in it. Coins that were holed in ancient times are intriguing.Why was this so? It takes a lot of time and lessens the metal content of thecoin and its value, so why were these ancient coins holed? Sometimes Roman and Greek coins were used as decorations by both males and females. Ancient people through the ages also used holed coinsto nail them to a door or wall. This ritual is to praise the ruler orthe God illustrated on them or in hope of gaining protection from the ruler or ancientgod.
Many holed coins have been used as decorations or as a souvenir.Some may have been purposely defaced. In some cases, holed coins with lower value may have beenused simply as piece of metal. The following are typesof Holed Coins.
Coins With Multiple Holes
Several late Roman bronze coins have multiple holes. One significant theory is that armoured soldiers may havethreaded them onto their weapon, where they can provide a mixture of decorationand extra protection. Their value as currency was low, so this is feasible.
Silver Antoninanus of Severina composed of two differentholes. This is a stylish choice of jewellery. It consisted of two smaller holesat opposite ends of the coin. It could have been put together with other coinsto form necklaces. Certainly, two holes would not be enough for asimple pendant.
Almost Holes
Some coins demonstrate a hole which has notbeen passed through. One of the best examples is the Centenionalis of Constantius II.This Corinth has holes found on both sides. There’s no proof being revealed,but they do have a split attempt. They are in various positions, so thehole-borer could not have accepted them to fasten together.
Drilled Holes
There is usually some roughness and sometimes abnormality on the shape of the hole, sometimes by the warp of the metal aroundit. There may be an indication of a slight flaw of workmanship. Bronze coins were drilled the most because of their cheapervalue but gold and silver ones were also drilled by more wealthy individuals.
Plugged Holes
Most of the ancient coins have been restored by pluggingthe hole. The plug is typically the same metal as the coin.Fixes are most common in the most precious coins such as gold coins with plugged holes.
This Silver Siliqua Coin of Constantius II has been pluggedwith the use of silver- appearing metal, and the outcome of the repair isreasonably coarse. It may have been both repaired and holed at same time. Thisis a thin coin from the 4th century and weighed only 0.3 grams and known as“Papal-Byzantine” from the byzantine empire which was after the Romanimperial times.
Holed Coins In Leather
Another popular use of coins was in decoration on clothingor leather bags. Ancient Roman soldiers used holed coins in their uniformsand another use has been in leather bags where the coin would not be holed butwould have a plug soldered to the coin and a hole inserted to add to a leatheritem.
In Africa they would add a slug to a leather bag and hammerthe end flat to make the coin fix permanently. Below is a unique leather bag from Morocco with coins fromdifferent times hammered permanently.
Coins were also minted with holes deliberately in them. France’s1921 25 centime had a hole as well as Japanese coins like 5 and 50 Yen.The mostfamous coins minted with a hole were Ancient Chinese coins that had squares cutinto the centre instead round shape.
The reason being they were easier to string when the hole issquare. Coins were cast poured in crude a method and when making thecoins a square rod was placed in the center so they would not roll around and be an evensize.
The Chinese were among the first to make coins in 770 BC. They were a blade shape and not round like newer coins, however in 350 BC they made roundcoins. History stated that in one year, 220 million coins were madewhich was a record for ancient times. Also, in Chinese Mythology the round coin represents theuniverse and the square hole represents China, the centre of the universe.
Contemporary Fakes
Why would anyone consider a fake for decoration?It is the best way to make use of it since once it is identified it cannot be used as currency.
One of the best examples of contemporary fake is aRepublican Denarius, where you can notice the silver coating that has wornoff to disclose the base metal underneath. It would have been a surpriseif this is only becoming noticeable when the hole was first produced!
Holes with Loops
Sometimes holed coins are established with metal loopsthrough the holes. The first coin of this type is a diminutive Bronze of Honorius during 5thcentury and it has a brass circle through its hole.
Although the coin is seriously patented the brass round isnot. It does not look innovative but might not be antique. This is the type ofloop you might anticipate from a proficient metal worker from the time sincethis coin was struck.
Holed coin collecting is popular and continues to gain popularity. People are always facinated by how the drilled artefact was worn and some people even make boardgame from these. Since the 1990s dozens of countries mint coinage with a holein centre.
The United States also have holed coins, many draped bustdollars were minted between 1799 to 1800 and these coins had holes so that a leather necklace couldthread through them and they were worn as concealed necklaces.
