diff --git a/src/o_init.c b/src/o_init.c
index 3ebd7edc7..22dcab445 100644
--- a/src/o_init.c
+++ b/src/o_init.c
@@ -167,14 +167,14 @@ init_objects(void)
                 break;
             }
         }
-    check:
+ checkprob:
         sum = 0;
         for (i = first; i < last; i++)
             sum += objects[i].oc_prob;
         if (sum == 0) {
             for (i = first; i < last; i++)
                 objects[i].oc_prob = (1000 + i - first) / (last - first);
-            goto check;
+            goto checkprob;
         }
         if (sum != 1000)
             error("init-prob error for class %d (%d%%)", oclass, sum);
@@ -191,6 +191,23 @@ init_objects(void)
         if (!g.bases[last])
             g.bases[last] = g.bases[last + 1];
 
+    /* check objects[].oc_name_known */
+    for (i = 0; i < NUM_OBJECTS; ++i) {
+        int nmkn = objects[i].oc_name_known != 0;
+
+        if (!OBJ_DESCR(objects[i]) ^ nmkn) {
+            if (iflags.sanity_check) {
+                impossible(
+                    "obj #%d (%s) name is %s despite%s alternate description",
+                           i, OBJ_NAME(objects[i]),
+                           nmkn ? "pre-known" : "not known",
+                           nmkn ? "" : " no");
+            }
+            /* repair the mistake and keep going */
+            objects[i].oc_name_known = nmkn ? 0 : 1;
+        }
+    }
+
     /* shuffle descriptions */
     shuffle_all();
 #ifdef USE_TILES
diff --git a/src/objects.c b/src/objects.c
index 69db12689..738b69825 100644
--- a/src/objects.c
+++ b/src/objects.c
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@ TOOL("drum of earthquake","drum", 0, 0, 1, 1,  2, 25, 25, LEATHER, HI_LEATHER),
 WEPTOOL("pick-axe", None,
         1, 0, 0, 20, 100,  50,  6,  3, WHACK,  P_PICK_AXE, IRON, HI_METAL),
 WEPTOOL("grappling hook", None,
-        0, 0, 0,  5,  30,  50,  2,  6, WHACK,  P_FLAIL,    IRON, HI_METAL),
+        1, 0, 0,  5,  30,  50,  2,  6, WHACK,  P_FLAIL,    IRON, HI_METAL),
 WEPTOOL("unicorn horn", None,
         1, 1, 1,  0,  20, 100, 12, 12, PIERCE, P_UNICORN_HORN,
                                                            BONE, CLR_WHITE),
@@ -1054,8 +1054,8 @@ WAND(None,            "jeweled",  0, 150, 1, 0, IRON, HI_MINERAL),
 
 /* coins ... - so far, gold is all there is */
 #define COIN(name,prob,metal,worth) \
-    OBJECT(OBJ(name, None),                                        \
-           BITS(0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, P_NONE, metal),    \
+    OBJECT(OBJ(name, None),                                         \
+           BITS(1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, P_NONE, metal),    \
            0, COIN_CLASS, prob, 0, 1, worth, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, HI_GOLD)
 COIN("gold piece", 1000, GOLD, 1),
 #undef COIN