HOBO NICKELS

BY XAVIER PIQUE

Introduction

Hobo Nickels- Carved Buffalo (IndianHead) Nickels

Appeared about the same time as the Indian (Buffalo) nickel was issued. 1913 to 1938

Hobos- traveling men who worked for food, shelter or offered services

http://www.hobonickels.org

Introduction

Carved nickels could be traded for a meal a bath or money.

The Indian's portrait- attractive canvas; way to kill time

Hobos returned to society during the prosperity of the 1920's – then returned to the hobo life during the depression era

Connection to Traveling Circus

http://www.hobonickels.org

Typical Hobo Nickel

Preserves date and some features of coin

Carving on Obverse (usual) or Reverse Humorous or Playful Images

Carvings vary from crude to masterful

Unknown Carvers nicknamed by style

Uncarved Buffalo Nickel

Carver’s Tools

Carver’s Tools

Typical Carving Steps

Nicknamed Artist

Peanut Ear

Nicknamed Artist

Telephone Ear

Nicknamed Artist

No Neck

Nicknamed Artist

Smoothie

Nicknamed Artist

Flat Nose

Nicknamed Artist

Traveler

Nicknamed Artist

Traveler

Nicknamed Artist

Traveler

Nicknamed Artist

Dapper

Nicknamed Artist

Big Nose

Nicknamed Artist

Big Nose

Nicknamed Artist

Heritage Hank

Nicknamed Artist

Heritage Hank

Nicknamed Artist

Hunchback

Nicknamed Artist

Cactus Face

Nicknamed Artist

Bowin

Nicknamed Artist

Bowin

Nicknamed Artist

Wildman

Nicknamed Artist

Wildman

Nicknamed Carvers

“No Neck” ~ Guidebook “Peanut Ear” ~ Guidebook “Raymond” ~ BT2006#3 “Rough Beard” ~ Guidebook “Schnozz” ~ BT2007#1 “Smoothie” ~ “Tall Collar” ~ BT2005#2 “Tall Ear” ~ BT2003#1 Page7 “Telephone Ear” ~ Guidebook “Thin Neck” ~ BT2003#1 Page1 “Tiny Ear” ~ BT2003#1 Page8 “Traveler” ~ BT2005#2 “Tufty” ~ Guidebook “Wild Man” ~ BT2001#3

“Apple Cheek” ~ BT2003#1 Page6 “Beady Eye” ~ BT2003#1 Page7 “Big Ear” ~ BT2002#3 “Big Nose” ~ Guidebook “Bowin” ~ BT2006#1 “Bushy Beard” ~ BT2003#1 Page6 “Cactus Face” ~ BT2006#3 “Dapper” ~ Guidebook “Flat Nose” ~ Guidebook “Heritage Hank” ~ BT2006#1 “Hunchback” ~ Guidebook “Ich Kibibble” ~ BT2003#1 Page1 “Long Nose” ~ BT2003#1 Page6 “Needle Ear” ~ Guidebook

http://www.hobonickels.org/raycact.htm#cactus

Unknown Artist

Unknown- “Little Eva”

Unknown Artist

Little Eva

Unknown Artist

Unknown (Steve Cox Coll.)

Unknown

From Siberia

Named Artists

Named Artists

Shane Jameson

Named Artists

Ralph J. Perrico

http://www.rjpcoin.com/

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Ralph J. Perrico

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Perrico

Named Artists

Ralph J. Perrico

Named Artists

Steve Adams- Martyr of Liberty

Named Artists

Ray Cover- War Chief Gall

Named Artists

Mike Barbera

Named Artists

Dick Sheehan

Named Artists

Cliff Kraft

Named Artists

Greg Ashbury

Named Artists

John Belmonte

Named Artists

Ron Haas

Named Artists

Cinco De Arturo

Named Artists

Sonny Carpenter

Named Artists

Owen Covert

Named Artists

W. Eddings

Named Artist

Bill (Jameson) Zach

Named Artist

Bill (Jameson) Zach

Named Artist

Bill (Jameson) Zach

Named Artist

Bill (Jameson) Zach

Named Artist

J. Press (Steve Cox Coll)

Named Artist

Derek Pegnall

Named Artist

Derek Pegnall

Named Artist

Bert Wiegand

Named Artist

Tezera Ashagari (Kansas)

Named Artist

Ashagari

Named Artist

Joe Paonessa

Named Artist

Steve Adams- Train of Thought

Named Artist

Steve Cox

Carving on Reverse

Unknown- Siberia

Carving on Reverse

John Carter

Carving on Reverse

Ron Landis

Carving on Reverse

John Dorusa

Carving on Reverse

Little Eva (Unknown)

Artistic Carvings

Artistic

Mike Cirelli-Mary Magdalene

Artistic

Ray Cover, Jr.

Artistic

Bob Shamey

Artistic

Dick Sheehan

Artistic

Steve Adams

Artistic

Sam Alfano

Artistic

Jim Olivencia

Artistic

Lee Griffiths

Artistic

Ray Cover- On the Rise

Artistic

Jim Olivencia

Artistic

Jim Olivencia

Artistic

Perrico

Artistic

Perrico

Artistic

Sonny Carpenter- Hotoae

Artistic

Amy Armstrong- Babe Ruth

Gallery Mint Museum

Issues Hobo Tokens

THE ORIGINAL HOBO NICKEL SOCIETY THE ORIGINAL HOBO NICKEL SOCIETY

www.HoboNickels.org  

Credits

The Original Hobo Nickel Society http://www.hobonickels.org http://www.coinsite.com/content/faq/

HoboNickel.asp http://www.rjpcoin.com/ http://squirl.info/collection/show/314