Holed Ancient Coins - Holes and their purpose

• worn on a lace around the neck
• lined up on a lace for storage (like chinese cash coins)
• lined up on a fibula and pinned on the toga
• button on clothes
• nailed onto something, like doors, wooden boxes or legionary standards either to praise the emperor/gods or as talisman

Checking some notes I made a long time ago, (sources unrecorded) I found ancient holed coins, 2 or 3 holes, which were used sewn in overlapping fashion to a leather tunic to make scale (mail) armour. I also saw a multi-holed coin used as a strainer in the bottom of a clay funnel. This was used to strain grain out of beer. Ancient coins were utilitarian pieces of metal which, being handy and cheap, could be used for many purposes, even to make weapons.
-Marvin Tameanko on Moneta-L


Coins on a fibula, pinned on a toga. Perhaps for the quick shopping trip, after Lucilla discovered that there is no milk left or as lunch money for little Gaius, as Ken suggested ;-)


This one was probably worn as medaillon, since the hole (rather a slit) is directly over the head of Aurelianus. If the coin broke when the roman tried to make the slit into it or if it broke later can't be determined. The silvering on the reverse is more worn off than on the obverse. Maybe due wear, if the coin was intended to show the emperor, but maybe just coincidence.



Divus Augustus Æ As. Struck under Tiberius (Provident reverse) with 3 holes. Probably worn as a button or nailed onto a door or legionary standard. Most likely applied or worn as commemoration of the great Augustus. The holes seem to be punched from the obverse to the reverse, so we can assume Augustus was shown whereever it was displayed.


Here we have 2 coins with the original ring still attached, which were probably worn as talisman or necklace or decoration for clothing. Recognize the engraved X on the reverse of the right coin (late roman bronze). The left coin is probably a 2nd century roman provincial.



A late roman bronze coin with 2 holes. Since one hole is in the center and the other one rather near the border I'm not sure about it's use, but the center hole indicates that most likely the emperor was shown whereever it was displayed.