# American Coins With Holes In Their Center **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 6, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-coins-with-holes-in-their-center/117680 "2002-07-06T21:57:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-coins-with-holes-in-their-center/117680/1 "2002-07-06T21:57:12Z")
Are they still considered legal tender? Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-coins-with-holes-in-their-center/117680/2 "2002-07-06T22:16:01Z")
As coin dealers, we get mutilated coins all the time. Our bank used to take them back at face value. Up until about a year ago. We have now been told that they don’t want them as they can’t get reimbursed for them by the FED or whoever. But I’m just telling you what I’ve been told by our bank. And, unfortunately, they make the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-coins-with-holes-in-their-center/117680/3 "2002-07-07T04:05:54Z")
[http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/coins/sales.html#q4](http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/coins/sales.html#q4) > [@](#): > > I have some coins that were damaged and the bank will not redeem them. What can I do with them? > > The Treasury Department has prescribed regulations regarding uncurrent and mutilated coins. Let us explain the difference. Uncurrent coins are whole, but are worn or reduced in weight by natural abrasion. They are easily recognizable as to genuineness and denomination, and they are such that coin sorting and counting machines will accept them. Merchants and commercial banks will generally accept or refuse these coins at their discretion. However, Federal Reserve Banks and branches handle the redemption of uncurrent coins. > > Mutilated coins, on the other hand, are coins that are bent, broken, **not whole** , or fused or melted together. The United States Mint is the only place that handles redemption of mutilated coins, and they should be sent to the Mint at Post Office Box 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106.[bolding mine] So, it looks like coins with a hole punched in the middle are “not whole”, i.e. they’re not just worn down by “pocket wear”, so they’re probably not legal tender. Yo, Sam, I’m guessing that your bank just doesn’t want the hassle, so they shrug their shoulders and blame it on the Feds. But all you have to do is fill out the paperwork and ship 'em off to the Mint. [http://www.kc.frb.org/Pubaffrs/faqs.htm](http://www.kc.frb.org/Pubaffrs/faqs.htm) > [@](#): > > How do I redeem torn, burned, or mutilated currency? > > A. All mutilated currency should be sent by “Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested” to the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Office of Currency Standards, P.O. Box 37048, Washington, D.C. 20013. > > **Any fused, melted, or otherwise mutilated coins should be sent to the Superintendent, U.S. Mint, P.O. Box 400, Philadelphia, PA. 19105** I would assume this should also be sent “Registered Mail Return Receipt Requested”. I mean, you wouldn’t just stuff 'em in a bubble pack and drop them off… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-coins-with-holes-in-their-center/117680/4 "2002-07-07T04:23:54Z")
Thanks DDG. Since Registered mail costs about $7 or so _plus_ the postage, one couldn’t just send back a piddling amount of coins. I’ll suggest it to the powers that be. ---
**Author:** ![AmbushBug](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ambushbug/32/4600_2.png) [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-coins-with-holes-in-their-center/117680/5 "2002-07-07T05:41:47Z")
Just as a minor hijacking nitpick, or nitpicking hijack - I was at one time told (by my High School Government teacher) that coinage was not legal tender at all - that is to say, it could be refused in tender of a debt. [The master spoke](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_330.html) on the subject but there was a lack of a definitive conclusion, which I suspect is a sort of answer to your OP in itself. AmbushBug