Should holed coins be repaired?

tydye

Much of our early coinage has been holed in the past as keepsakes. Personally I appreciate holed coinage coinage. I like the history associated with it and the savings it affords me in acquiring early examples of US coinage.
For example
$20

fcloud

I think it would be to each their own. The history is cool, but some people may want to have super rare coins repaired. I would be okay with it either way.

Nysoto

The good intentions of repairing a holed coin will inevitably turn into a sham down the road when the plugged coin is covered with some greasy dirt and passed off as original, I have heard of some ending up in TPG holders. I have a few holed early coins, mostly rare varieties. If a person can appreciate the contemporary history of a holed coin, it is a way to get into an early type that may otherwise be unaffordable.

Tydye - you have a PQ holed coin

dsessom

I don't see a problem with it. Kind of like restoring a classic car. It may not be original, but it's better than it was to begin with.

RTS

Repaired coins leave me cold.

gemini12398

Neat coin! Want to sell it to me for 25? LOL

partagas

Personally I don't see a problem with the holes themselves. Agree part of the history that makes collecting so unique.

I would prefer to have them holed then repaired. Just the same as I would rather have original ugly toning vs. stripped dipped white. The more as it was the better for me.

ziggy29

I would say no in the usual case. Given that most of these old coins were probably holed a long, long time ago before these were considered collectibles worth a premium, I look at holes and graffiti much as I do wear -- just stuff people did with their coins way back in the day. And putting a hole in it and wearing it as a necklace (or whatever they did with it) in 1820 is just as much a part of the history as spending it at the local mercantile to buy a few things.

yellowkid

I think not.

bidask

Show it off and make a necklace out of it.

Maybe the person who put a whole in it did the same thing.

Bjorn

No. Most repair jobs look terrible in my opinion...

anablep

No.

123cents

<< <i>I think it would be to each their own. The history is cool, but some people may want to have super rare coins repaired. I would be okay with it either way. >>

ziggy29

<< <i>No. Most repair jobs look terrible in my opinion... >>

Not just that, but you have the worst of both worlds: You removed some of the history *and* you still don't have an original, problem-free coin.

ambro51

after you pop a balloon with a pin....is it OK to patch the hole?

JamesW

One of my favorite coins in my collection is a PCGS Genuine, Holed and Plugged, 1795 2 leaves Flowing Hair Dollar. Bought it raw from a dealer with a guarantee of genuine. This is about the only way I could ever justify owning one.

johnny9434

absolutly no

divecchia

No, as someone down the line will get taken when the coin is sold with no mention of the repair...

Donato

kimber45ACP

I always wanted to put a hole in a ragged out silver dollar with a bullet,
but just can't bring myself to do it.

Think it would be a nice conversation piece.

DoubleEagle59

Holed coins that are repaired are truly hideous

They are better left alone.

ChrisRx

No, the damage is already done.

MICHAELDIXON

I crudely plugged a 2c piece whenever I was in Hawaii and sold it as such. While stationed in Korea about 10 years later, I was building a set of 2c pieces and won one on a mail bid auction. Whenever I received it, you guessed it, it was the crudely plugged 2c piece I had sold years before in Hawaii. The mail bid auction didn't mention the crude plug! I ended up keeping the coin and have it around somewhere.

So, yes plug the holes! But...mention it in the ad whenever you sell it!

COALPORTER

Okay to fill a hole in the field. It should always be noted by the seller and the coin gets no increase in value, but it may be more collectable. Filling a hole and retooling detail is going to far, at least for me. I would never want it at any cost.

RedTiger

As always with these threads, hypothetical coins are one thing. Show me two or more real coins with real world pricing and the question becomes real (as opposed to academic).

It is interesting that the vast majority are saying to leave the holed coins as is and yet, most of the time, repaired coins sell for quite a bit more money than holed coins. It is another numismatic case where majority opinion doesn't have much impact on the market price. Why is that? Because 95% of those voting against repairs likely won't buy a holed coin for their permanent collection, so their opinions have little impact on market prices. In the small group of collectors that may actually buy a holed coin, likely have a much higher percentage that might appreciate a non-holed coin for their album.

I own several holed coins and at least one holed and repaired coin.

tydye

I almost purchased a holed 1799 large cent a few years ago for $400. I was probably the only one with somewhat of an interest in it. The owner eventually sent it out to be repaired. Sold quickly for 1000 and then resold later the same day for 2000.

I have heard that repaired holed coins can be detected with a black light. Can anyone confirm this from experience?

telephoto1

I really don't have a problem with repairing a hole if it is done well and it is offered honestly as having been fixed. Repaired coins, if done well, look good and make for an attractive yet affordable addition to a collection.

That said, I'd rather have a coin with a hole than have one with a really sloppy, poorly done plug job. That looks worse than the empty hole IMO.

MrEureka

I'd like the option to repair my coins, but I'd prefer that nobody else repairs theirs.

ricko

I would vote no. Because somewhere down the road, an unsuspecting newbie will get taken for good money. Cheers, RickO

Baley

I'd like the option to repair my coins, but I'd prefer that nobody else repairs theirs.

great response!

PerryHall

<< <i>Repaired coins leave me cold. >>



And holed coins don't leave you cold?

HoledandCreative

Since I collect holed coins by date and mintmark, I would prefer to get all I want before they disappear to the coin doctors.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Since I collect holed coins by date and mintmark, I would prefer to get all I want before they disappear to the coin doctors. >>


(Of course I am not quite as looney as he is... by date AND mintmark? Sheesh!)



<< <i>I almost purchased a holed 1799 large cent a few years ago for $400. I was probably the only one with somewhat of an interest in it. The owner eventually sent it out to be repaired. Sold quickly for 1000 and then resold later the same day for 2000. >>

Think again. Plenty of people would have had an interest. More would have wanted it repaired, of course, but I happen to lack the 1799 (for obvious reasons) in my holey large cent date set on the back of my vest. (1793, 1795, 1799, and 1804 are the ones I lack, and probably always will. I have thought about drilling some replicas.)

I totally love that half dollar in the OP. But I suppose that was predictable enough.

melvin289

I once read that one of the reasons coins were holed and worn around the neck was that pockets back then weren't too reliable or deep. The coins were worn around the neck to keep from loosing them. Another reason would be an emergency stash, kind of like a 20 hidden in one's wallet now. But for whatever reason they are holed I would rather have the hole than a repair. It's like the coinage off the sunken ships. They might be "Conserved" to them but they are cleaned to me.

Ron

Edited for spelling.

PerryHall

<< <i>Holed coins that are repaired are truly hideous

They are better left alone. >>



Not every repaired coin is hideous. I've seen several holed and repaired coins that were virtually impossible to detect.

pmac

<< <i>after you pop a balloon with a pin....is it OK to patch the hole? >>


Now that takes a skilled technician.