Making Necklaces With a Coin

You can turn a coin into a necklace by drilling a small fitting hole and adding a jump ring, or by holding the coin in a bezel or wire wrap without drilling it. The best method depends on whether you are comfortable permanently changing the coin and whether you want a casual DIY charm or a fine-jewelry pendant. Start by deciding which side of the coin you want facing forward and whether the reverse should remain visible.

Choose a Coin and Attachment Route

Choose a coin that carries a story: a travel souvenir, birth-year coin, inherited lucky penny, discontinued currency design, or a coin tied to family heritage. Photograph both sides before altering it, especially if the date, mint mark, or reverse design matters to you.

A drilled jump-ring pendant is a straightforward route; a custom bezel is a fine-jewelry option.

Do not alter a coin if preserving its original condition is more important to you than wearing it. Choose another example of the same coin, use a reproduction, or choose a no-drill method instead.

In the United States, turning a coin into jewelry is different from using altered currency to deceive someone. Make the piece as jewelry, and do not try to spend the altered coin afterward. Currency rules can differ elsewhere.

How to Make a Simple Coin Pendant Necklace

Use this table to choose the attachment method before you begin.

Attachment Method	Best For	What Changes on the Coin
Drilled hole and jump ring	Simple pendant	A 1/16-inch hole near the upper edge
Glue-on bail	Lightweight display-style pendant	The bail covers part of the back
Wire wrap	A removable-looking handmade frame	No hole, but wire covers part of the edge
Custom bezel	Sentimental or fine-jewelry design	Usually no hole; the rim is enclosed

Step 1: Plan the Pendant Orientation

1. Place the coin on a flat surface with the side you want displayed facing up.
2. Decide whether the pendant should hang with the date, portrait, emblem, or other feature upright.
3. Mark a spot near the upper edge where a hole will not cover a detail you want to keep visible.
4. Leave enough metal around the mark that the jump ring will not sit on the very edge of the coin.

A drilled hole works especially well for a coin you want to wear often, because the jump ring carries the pendant’s weight rather than an adhesive bond.

Step 2: Gather and Secure Your Materials

You will need:

• A coin
• A drill and a bit intended for metal
• A 1/16-inch drill bit
• Painter’s tape or a clamp
• A flat scrap-wood backing block
• Safety glasses
• A fine file or metal sandpaper
• A jump ring
• Two pairs of jewelry pliers
• A chain with a clasp

Place the coin on the wood backing block and secure it so it cannot spin while you drill. Tape can help steady a flat coin, but do not hold the coin with your fingers near the drill bit. Wear safety glasses and keep loose hair, sleeves, and jewelry away from the drill.

Step 3: Drill and Smooth the Hole

1. Fit the drill with a 1/16-inch bit for a basic pendant hole. If you are using a specific pendant fitting, use the hole size required by that fitting.
2. Position the bit on your mark and begin drilling straight down with gentle, steady pressure.
3. Let the bit cut through the metal rather than forcing it. Keep the coin supported on the wood block.
4. Once the bit passes through, remove the coin and inspect both sides of the hole.
5. Smooth any sharp metal burrs with a fine file or metal sandpaper.

Run a fingertip lightly around the hole after filing. The edge should feel smooth enough that it will not scrape the jump ring, chain, or skin.

Step 4: Add the Jump Ring and Chain

1. Open the jump ring by twisting its ends sideways with two pairs of pliers. Do not pull the ring open front to back, which can weaken its shape.
2. Slide the jump ring through the coin’s hole and then through the chain’s end ring or bail.
3. Twist the jump ring closed until its ends meet cleanly.
4. Check that the coin hangs facing forward and that the jump ring cannot slip through the drilled hole.
5. Wipe away metal dust with a soft cloth before wearing the necklace.

I use a necklace clasp helper at this point because it holds the chain end steady while I close and test the clasp.

Attach a Coin Without Drilling

A no-drill method is useful for a coin you do not want to pierce. It also gives you more control over how much of the coin’s face and edge remain visible.

Wire-Wrap Coin Pendant

A wire wrap creates a handmade frame around the coin.

1. Choose jewelry wire that is sturdy enough to hold its shape but flexible enough to bend with pliers.
2. Form the wire around the coin’s outer edge, keeping the front design uncovered.
3. Bring the wire ends together at the top of the coin and twist them into a hanging loop.
4. Wrap the remaining wire tails down the sides of the coin frame, trim them, and tuck the cut ends inward so they do not snag.
5. Thread the finished wire loop onto a chain and gently test that the coin cannot slide out of the wrap.

This style works best when the wire crosses the rim in several places, creating a secure frame rather than a single loop around the edge.

Glue-On Bail Pendant

A glue-on bail is a small pendant fitting with a flat back that adheres to the coin’s reverse.

1. Choose a flat-back bail that is smaller than the coin and does not cover an important reverse-side detail.
2. Clean the back of the coin and the bail’s flat pad, then dry both surfaces completely.
3. Apply a metal-compatible jewelry adhesive to the bail pad and press it firmly onto the coin’s back.
4. Keep the coin flat while the adhesive reaches the cure period stated for that product.
5. Once cured, thread the bail onto a chain and test the bond gently before wearing it outside the house.

A glued bail is best for a lightweight, occasional-wear pendant. A drilled-hole pendant, wire frame, or bezel offers another attachment option.

Turn a Sentimental Coin Into a Fine-Jewelry Pendant

A professionally made bezel holds the outer edge of the coin in a metal frame. It can preserve the coin’s face without a visible drilled hole and can make a simple coin look like an intentional heirloom piece.

Plan the Design Before Commissioning It

Bring clear photos of both sides of the coin and note which side should face outward. Decide whether you want the coin fully framed, partly visible from the back, or paired with an accent stone.

A coin design shown in a photograph can be reproduced by a metalworker as part of a necklace.

Ask for a design that accounts for the coin’s thickness, edge shape, and the way it will hang from the chain. A bezel can have a fixed bail, a hidden back bail, or a more sculptural connection to the chain.

Choose Materials and Set a Budget

On SPUR’s Heirloom Coin Collection, the maker pairs a petite accent stone with a custom solid-gold bezel in its coin-jewelry designs. For that maker’s custom work, the gold options cited are 14kt and 18kt; confirm the chosen metal and design details for the selected SPUR custom-coin design.

The cited 14kt and 18kt gold options apply to that maker’s custom work, so confirm the current listing or request a custom quote before making plans.

A professional coin setting is a design commission, not an authenticity or valuation service. If you are unsure whether you want the original coin altered or enclosed, keep the project focused on wearability and personal meaning.

Keep Your Coin Necklace Looking Good

A coin necklace has more moving parts than a plain chain, so check the jump ring, bail, or wire frame whenever you put it on. If the ring develops a gap, the bail loosens, or wire ends begin catching on clothing, stop wearing the necklace until the fitting is repaired.

For routine care, wipe the pendant and chain with a soft dry cloth after wearing. If a common circulation coin needs more cleaning, use mild dish soap, lukewarm water, and a soft cotton pad, then dry it thoroughly. Avoid polishing a coin if you want to keep its existing darkened surface or natural patina.

Store the necklace separately from harder jewelry that could scratch the coin face. Keeping the pendant flat or hanging it prevents the coin from rubbing against chains, stones, or other metal charms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Make a Necklace Out of a Dime?

Yes, you can make a necklace out of a dime. Before drilling it, decide which side you want displayed and mark a spot near the upper edge that will not cover a detail you want visible. A dime makes a small, subtle coin pendant, especially with a fine chain and a small jump ring. You can use a small drill bit, such as a 1/16-inch bit, to drill a hole.

What Is the Meaning Behind Wearing a Coin Necklace?

A coin necklace has no single fixed meaning. It can represent luck, a birth year, a place you traveled, family roots, a favorite historical image, or an everyday reminder of a person or event. The most meaningful coin is usually one whose date, design, or origin already matters to the wearer.

How Do You Style a Coin Necklace?

Let the coin be the focal point by wearing it on a simple chain with an open neckline, crewneck, button-down shirt, or plain knit. A small coin can layer well with a short plain pendant or a longer chain, while a larger coin often looks best worn alone. To start, choose the coin first, hold it against an outfit you already wear often, and select a chain that lets the design sit where you want it noticed.