What caused this hole in this coin? Looks strange to me

TheLiberator

I can't figure out if this is a bubble in the coin, or a half attempt at drilling? I guess the location makes me think drilling, but it doesn't look like it. If it is drilling, smeone ruined a very nice coin. What do you guys think?

Baley

Drill, or more likely an incomplete punch-through. What's the other side look like opposite the mark?

ms70

Maybe someone hit it with a punch for a starter hole then decided not to drill?

TheLiberator

<< <i>Drill, or more likely an incomplete punch-through. What's the other side look like opposite the mark? >>



No mark at all!

BillJones

<< <i>

<< <i>Drill, or more likely an incomplete punch-through. What's the other side look like opposite the mark? >>



No mark at all! >>



Not even a flat spot or bulge? If that's true, it is rather odd. Where did the metal go?

earlwbollinger

Sort of reminds me of a spy story.
"Here son, take this specially marked coin and show it to Mr.Smith when he asks. That coin will tell Mr.Smith your from me and
I vouch for your reliability."

lordmarcovan

Attmepted hole. Take it from me- that's one thing I can call myself an "expert" on.

If it were a bit deeper, you might have seen a bulge on the other side, but nickel's pretty hard, even if only the 25% alloy we use.

I have a couple of otherwise-high-grade holed Shield nickels on my vest. One is EF-AU with a little luster, as I recall. A real heartbreaker for most sane collectors, but a sweet vest coin for me.

I also have two or three really low grade and crappy Shield nickels that serve as buttons on the vest. I drilled these myself, since I couldn't find any with two holes in the center for buttons. Before you banish me to eternal numismatic hellfire for that sin, I should add that I do NOT drill my own holes under most circumstances, as that would be cheating. Only OLD holes for me! But I had to make an exception for all but one of the coins I made into buttons. I had a handful of spooky cull Shield nicks and FE cents that a detecting buddy of mine had dug. They were all crusty and low grade (in some cases, dateless), so I put 'em into the rock tumbler to clean 'em up and made buttons out of 'em. They look nice.

Oh- and in maybe one or two other cases, I "finished" partial holes like you have there, when the coins were dates I needed for the large cent set on the back of the vest.

TheLiberator

<< <i> Only OLD holes for me! But I had to make an exception for all but one of the coins I made into buttons. I had a handful of spooky cull Shield nicks and FE cents that a detecting buddy of mine had dug. They were all crusty and low grade (in some cases, dateless), so I put 'em into the rock tumbler to clean 'em up and made buttons out of 'em. They look nice.

Oh- and in maybe one or two other cases, I "finished" partial holes like you have there, when the coins were dates I needed for the large cent set on the back of the vest. >>



Hmm..someone is sounding very guilty and ashamed!! haha!

Thanks for the in depth help, I really appreciate it!