8/22/2006: Hobo nickels

Undertoad · 08-22-2006, 02:28 PM

xoB sent this along, and I did see it somewhere else earlier, can't remember where.

Folk artists have used just about every material on earth. That includes earth and dirt, as last week linkers were interested to see perfectly round, highly polished balls of dirt as folk art from Japan.

When the US first minted the buffalo nickel in 1913, the practice of carving a new face onto the nickel was started, because the coin was thick and its metal was malleable.

Nickels were carved by several practically unknown artists - including actual hobos - and those early works are now collectable. But modern nickel-scratchers keep up the practice and create new works, and most in the set above are modern.

Wikipedia entry

glatt · 08-22-2006, 02:48 PM

That's really cool. I never heard of these things before.

Pancake Man · 08-22-2006, 03:30 PM

But in 1913, wouldn't a nickel buy you a house, a car, and ten gallons of gas? Seems kinda rich for a hobo....

Emrikol · 08-22-2006, 03:30 PM

That is awesome!

You never cease to amaze me UT. Thanks!

hampor · 08-22-2006, 03:47 PM

Aren't there legal implications?

They put those bumpy edges onto coins to keep people from shaving them. I bet those laws could apply here too.

dar512 · 08-22-2006, 03:59 PM

My understanding is that, for coins, it is only illegal to modify a coin with the intent to defraud. It's different for paper money.

Undertoad · 08-22-2006, 04:00 PM

Credit xoBruce where credit is due!

The 42 · 08-22-2006, 04:18 PM

That's incredibly cool!

Kudos, xoB!

xoxoxoBruce · 08-22-2006, 08:06 PM

The Hobo Nickel Society has the history and tons of pictures and links.
Some of the nickels done in the last 10 years or so were done by professional engravers, as a hobby. Those, of course, are incredible but the early ones, although somewhat crude, are pretty impressive considering they were working with tools like a jack knife and bits of broken glass.

08-22-2006, 02:28 PM	#1
Undertoad does not trust the white man Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Valley Forge Natl Park Posts: 19,219	8/22/2006: Hobo nickels xoB sent this along, and I did see it somewhere else earlier, can't remember where. Folk artists have used just about every material on earth. That includes earth and dirt, as last week linkers were interested to see perfectly round, highly polished balls of dirt as folk art from Japan. When the US first minted the buffalo nickel in 1913, the practice of carving a new face onto the nickel was started, because the coin was thick and its metal was malleable. Nickels were carved by several practically unknown artists - including actual hobos - and those early works are now collectable. But modern nickel-scratchers keep up the practice and create new works, and most in the set above are modern. Wikipedia entry

08-22-2006, 03:30 PM	#3
Pancake Man Hand-of-Kindness Extender Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 131	But in 1913, wouldn't a nickel buy you a house, a car, and ten gallons of gas? Seems kinda rich for a hobo.... __________________ Abandon all hope, o ye who read my posts

08-22-2006, 03:30 PM	#4
Emrikol Compatriot-at-Arms Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 107	That is awesome! You never cease to amaze me UT. Thanks! __________________ Of course. Why not?

08-22-2006, 03:59 PM	#6
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,966	My understanding is that, for coins, it is only illegal to modify a coin with the intent to defraud. It's different for paper money. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

08-22-2006, 08:06 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 34,002	The Hobo Nickel Society has the history and tons of pictures and links. Some of the nickels done in the last 10 years or so were done by professional engravers, as a hobby. Those, of course, are incredible but the early ones, although somewhat crude, are pretty impressive considering they were working with tools like a jack knife and bits of broken glass. __________________ You can't steer threads, you can only watch them drift.

08-22-2006, 02:48 PM	#2
glatt waiting like a stalking Butler Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 10,593	That's really cool. I never heard of these things before.

08-22-2006, 03:47 PM	#5
hampor Superior Inhabitant Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: SiliValley Posts: 73	Aren't there legal implications? They put those bumpy edges onto coins to keep people from shaving them. I bet those laws could apply here too.

08-22-2006, 04:00 PM	#7
Undertoad does not trust the white man Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Valley Forge Natl Park Posts: 19,219	Credit xoBruce where credit is due!

08-22-2006, 04:18 PM	#8
The 42 I'm not lurking, I'm stalking YOU! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Somwhere over the rainbow Posts: 70	That's incredibly cool! Kudos, xoB!

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