Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
This nickel reminds me of another disaster. Credit to the author, Ron Guth
A Numismatic Catastrophe
By Ron Guth - September 15, 2009
This is a true story from 9/11 – one with a numismatic angle. You are about to read pales compared to the loss of human life on that fateful day, but this is a story that needs to be told.
Imagine this nightmare scenario: Your bank, where your coins are stored in a safe deposit box, calls to tell you that the bank building collapsed and all that’s left is a pile of burning rubble.
Plus, it will be months before you can recover anything from your box, assuming the box can be found. That’s exactly what happened to collector Paul Renda. You see, Paul’s coins were inside a box...inside a vault...inside a New York branch of JP Morgan Chase...inside a skyscraper...which was one of the twin towers known as the World Trade Center.
On September 11, 2001, terrorists flew planes into each of the towers, causing them to burn and collapse, taking with them nearly 3,000 lives and destroying billions of dollars worth of property – including Paul’s coins. Rescue operations began immediately but were hampered by smoldering fires, poor air quality, and fears of additional collapses due to the immense pile of rubble's unstable structure. When it became apparent that there were no more survivors, the efforts became a recovery and cleanup operation. Demolition crews picked apart the twisted steel and crushed concrete, searching for human remains, recovering lost property, and carting away big and small pieces of the towers that once dominated the Manhattan skyline.
Deep beneath the rubble and remains to lay a vast assortment of treasures, ranging from $230 million in precious metals to entire bank vaults and safe deposit boxes like the one rented by Paul Renda. Eventually, these treasures were recovered and restored to their rightful owners when such identification was possible. Months after the collapse, Paul Renda was summoned to a special location to reclaim his treasure. According to the final appraisal report, “The Renda collection of coins is comprised primarily of coins culled from circulation and a small group of choice uncirculated silver dollars.” The inventory list included various coins, including Lincoln cents, Shield nickels, Walking Liberty half dollars, nine silver dollars (six of which were Morgan dollars), and others. In all, Paul’s box contained 243 coins. Everyone, especially Paul, was anxious to see if his coins had survived and, if they had, what kind of condition they were in.
Mr. Renda provided PCGS with a videotape of the day he went to recover his safe deposit box contents. Watching the video is powerful, as one sees a scene that must have been repeated hundreds, if not thousands of times, by other people claiming their boxes' contents.
The video begins with Paul entering a storage room where stacks of safe deposit boxes have been placed around the perimeter. The boxes look terrible; they appear burnt, crushed, and many doors have already been drilled out or popped open. The fronts have been spray-painted in a graffiti-like fashion to identify the bank or location in which they were found. Paul is seen scanning each of the stacks, searching for his box (# Z-433), which he finally finds at the lower-left corner of one of the burnt-out stacks.
The door to Paul’s box appears to be in excellent shape, better than many of the others, and he attempts to insert his key to no avail. A technician uses a hammer to punch out the locks and pry open the door. The technician pulls Paul’s box out of its drawer and carries it to a makeshift cubicle where the box and its contents can be examined. Paul is given a pair of latex gloves to protect his hands from the soot. The box is charred on the outside but appears to be in good shape, so Paul is hopeful that the contents might have survived.
Paul gently opens the lid and peers inside. Paul’s hope turns to dismay as the box reveals nothing but the blackened remains of album pages, documents, and coins. The temperatures required to melt coins inside a steel box must have been immense. The albums' paper pages remained intact and appeared to have been turned into charcoal, more so than having been burnt. Paul can be seen lifting blackened individual coins out of the box and laying them onto a sheet of black plastic. As he lifts out the individual album pages, coins can be seen dropping from the holes. The pages themselves are very fragile and prone to crumbling.
Soon, Paul has before him a pitiful pile of burnt album pages and blackened coins. The back of Paul’s box contains important documents. Surprisingly, most of the documents remain relatively intact as single fragile pages. Paul can separate them and, if they don’t crumble apart, he can actually read some of them.
Three of Paul’s coins are illustrated in this article. Each coin shows severe discoloration and blistering of the surfaces. The melting point of silver is 1,763 degrees Fahrenheit, giving some idea of the inferno these coins endured. The contents of Paul’s box were a disaster. The heat, fire, and corrosive action of the World Trade Center’s destruction reduced Paul’s collection to that of the bullion value of the silver coins. Likewise, his documents were effectively unsalvageable.
It may come as a surprise to most people, but banks usually have no liability of any kind for the contents of the safe-deposit boxes in their care. However, because of the extraordinary circumstances of September 11, JP Morgan Chase offered to compensate Paul for his loss. They hired an outside appraiser to examine the box's contents and determine a replacement value for the coins. Surprisingly, the final settlement amount offered by JP Morgan Chase was higher than the hypothetical loss developed by the appraiser. However, Paul decided not to accept the settlement, opting to retain all 243 of his coins as memories of this historic event. He plans to donate some of the coins to museums, but the coins' bulk will remain with his family.
Paul Renda’s association with the World Trade Center goes beyond this story. Paul was working in Dean Witter Discover's offices in Two World Trade Center when it was bombed in 1993. He experienced the terror of huddling in a room-filling with smoke, not knowing whether to stay put or attempt to make it down to the street. He chose the latter. Paul’s cousin Thomas “Tommy” Farino died on 9/11 while responding to the attack. Tommy was a New York Fire Department Captain (the youngest named Captain of Engine Co. 26) and was promoted posthumously to Battalion Chief.
Ron Guth is President of PCGS CoinFacts. He has been active as a coin collector, dealer, writer, and auctioneer since his introduction to numismatics in 1964.
Any story from 9/11 is somber and usually heartwrenching, but as far as that person's numismatic loss is concerned, his modest collection as detailed in the article is undoubtedly far more valuable now than it was on Sep. 10, 2001. The historical connection to 9/11 makes them invaluable.
@koynekwest said:
I have that very same coin pictured in my Buffalo nickel abraded die and strike characteristics book.
That's funny this certain coin is brought up in a thread. Just yesterday at my favorite B+M shop. They had the exact coin with a different date, 1935s, in the display case. Same artform. She was selling her's for $20. I was just about to pull the trigger, until I examined the coin closer. To me, it wasn't the same carvings and detailed look as most of the "hobo nickels" appear? More just dots everywhere? So I passed on it.
Now, I see this thread. The same coin appearance. Should I go back tomorrow and snatch this coin for only $20 or maybe even less? thanks guys
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.
@koynekwest said:
I have that very same coin pictured in my Buffalo nickel abraded die and strike characteristics book.
That's funny this certain coin is brought up in a thread. Just yesterday at my favorite B+M shop. They had the exact coin with a different date, 1935s, in the display case. Same artform. She was selling her's for $20. I was just about to pull the trigger, until I examined the coin closer. To me, it wasn't the same carvings and detailed look as most of the "hobo nickels" appear? More just dots everywhere? So I passed on it.
Now, I see this thread. The same coin appearance. Should I go back tomorrow and snatch this coin for only $20 or maybe even less? thanks guys
Pass. It is a low quality hobo nickel at best. Stick to those with "artwork" that shows some talent.
Pass. It is a low quality hobo nickel at best. Stick to those with "artwork" that shows some talent.
Just got home. Why, thanks for responding so late (or Early), I was just about to go to sleep. No, really thanks for the quick reply and good advise. I agree with what you said. This is why I was so hesitant on buying it then. It appears more cheaply done than most. I guess the one Keets put up has interest mainly because of the 18/7 variety? Thanks again. Goodnight. or Good Morning! Lol
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.
@koynekwest said:
I have that very same coin pictured in my Buffalo nickel abraded die and strike characteristics book.
That's funny this certain coin is brought up in a thread. Just yesterday at my favorite B+M shop. They had the exact coin with a different date, 1935s, in the display case. Same artform. She was selling her's for $20. I was just about to pull the trigger, until I examined the coin closer. To me, it wasn't the same carvings and detailed look as most of the "hobo nickels" appear? More just dots everywhere? So I passed on it.
Now, I see this thread. The same coin appearance. Should I go back tomorrow and snatch this coin for only $20 or maybe even less? thanks guys
If the one you saw was a1935-S and not the 1918/7-D over-date, the words “the exact coin” don’t begin to belong in your comparison.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@keets said:
sold for $1,770 with the juice, lower than I had expected.
,,, but far more than it should have brought.
Curiously, how do you determine what an item like that “should have brought”?
I make my own decisions on value. I consider that piece to be mutilated mess and of little value regardless of the fact that it the overdate. It is a coin I personally would not purchase.
@keets said:
sold for $1,770 with the juice, lower than I had expected.
,,, but far more than it should have brought.
Curiously, how do you determine what an item like that “should have brought”?
I make my own decisions on value. I consider that piece to be mutilated mess and of little value regardless of the fact that it the overdate. It is a coin I personally would not purchase.
Thank you. I wouldn’t buy it either, but I’m having an impossible time trying to decide how I’d value it.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
A coin owned by a member here- a 1796 quarter- that is in a wonderful condition outside of the fact someone stamped numbers around its obverse edge like a clock. It is still attractive in its own right. This nickel here isn't such. A rare date that is ruined by graffiti.
A coin owned by a member here- a 1796 quarter- that is in a wonderful condition outside of the fact someone stamped numbers around its obverse edge like a clock. It is still attractive in its own right. This nickel here isn't such. A rare date that is ruined by graffiti
an interesting comment(s) considering your past forum behavior and penchant for "lowball" crap.
Comments
Are you supposed to connect the dots?
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I don't know what to think!
I never noticed how strong that overdate is
My PCGS Set Registry Profile
look like tiny googly eyes 👀
See what it goes for
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
as an un-carved VF it would probably sell for $4,000-$4,500, I would imagine it'll be close to that, $3,000+.
Maybe the picture was taken with a fisheye lens?
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
I hope that the carbon spots on his beard aren't 'active' and grow and spread to the rest of his face and coin!!
I'll pass, even though, it's a rare overdate that has been fashioned into a collectible hobo.
Spotting is spotting and I don't care for it.
Also, does anyone else notice the giant scratch all the way down the face and cheek??
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set:
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Is it also supposed to be an original Hobo Nickel? Those go for good money to collectors. Cheers, RickO
Ugh! Not for me regardless of the price.
"If only" it was an attractively done Hobo nickel.
"If only" it had been left alone.
Those are the only two scenarios that work for me on that one.
peacockcoins
That hobo isn't a bum!
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Oh the humanity.
I'd rather be associated with selling coins.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
buy it, then finish the job.
Very cool cover art this time around ....
Disturbing.
The failed artist in me hates it...
The coin guy in me is heartbroken...
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Could they have been trying to create a "Covid-mask-wearing" version of a hobo nickel, not knowing what financial damage they were doing?
Brutal
Ugh! That's downright painful to look at...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I have that very same coin pictured in my Buffalo nickel abraded die and strike characteristics book.
The look makes me want to vomit. It's gross looking.
Interest: Latin American history with an emphasis on colonial Mexico & Peru
Sports: NHL & NFL
Thank you Lord for another beautiful day!!!
Heartbreaking and gut-wrenching at the same time.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,...
I kinda like it
This nickel reminds me of another disaster. Credit to the author, Ron Guth
A Numismatic Catastrophe
By Ron Guth - September 15, 2009
This is a true story from 9/11 – one with a numismatic angle. You are about to read pales compared to the loss of human life on that fateful day, but this is a story that needs to be told.
Imagine this nightmare scenario: Your bank, where your coins are stored in a safe deposit box, calls to tell you that the bank building collapsed and all that’s left is a pile of burning rubble.
Plus, it will be months before you can recover anything from your box, assuming the box can be found. That’s exactly what happened to collector Paul Renda. You see, Paul’s coins were inside a box...inside a vault...inside a New York branch of JP Morgan Chase...inside a skyscraper...which was one of the twin towers known as the World Trade Center.
On September 11, 2001, terrorists flew planes into each of the towers, causing them to burn and collapse, taking with them nearly 3,000 lives and destroying billions of dollars worth of property – including Paul’s coins. Rescue operations began immediately but were hampered by smoldering fires, poor air quality, and fears of additional collapses due to the immense pile of rubble's unstable structure. When it became apparent that there were no more survivors, the efforts became a recovery and cleanup operation. Demolition crews picked apart the twisted steel and crushed concrete, searching for human remains, recovering lost property, and carting away big and small pieces of the towers that once dominated the Manhattan skyline.
Deep beneath the rubble and remains to lay a vast assortment of treasures, ranging from $230 million in precious metals to entire bank vaults and safe deposit boxes like the one rented by Paul Renda. Eventually, these treasures were recovered and restored to their rightful owners when such identification was possible. Months after the collapse, Paul Renda was summoned to a special location to reclaim his treasure. According to the final appraisal report, “The Renda collection of coins is comprised primarily of coins culled from circulation and a small group of choice uncirculated silver dollars.” The inventory list included various coins, including Lincoln cents, Shield nickels, Walking Liberty half dollars, nine silver dollars (six of which were Morgan dollars), and others. In all, Paul’s box contained 243 coins. Everyone, especially Paul, was anxious to see if his coins had survived and, if they had, what kind of condition they were in.
Mr. Renda provided PCGS with a videotape of the day he went to recover his safe deposit box contents. Watching the video is powerful, as one sees a scene that must have been repeated hundreds, if not thousands of times, by other people claiming their boxes' contents.
The video begins with Paul entering a storage room where stacks of safe deposit boxes have been placed around the perimeter. The boxes look terrible; they appear burnt, crushed, and many doors have already been drilled out or popped open. The fronts have been spray-painted in a graffiti-like fashion to identify the bank or location in which they were found. Paul is seen scanning each of the stacks, searching for his box (# Z-433), which he finally finds at the lower-left corner of one of the burnt-out stacks.
The door to Paul’s box appears to be in excellent shape, better than many of the others, and he attempts to insert his key to no avail. A technician uses a hammer to punch out the locks and pry open the door. The technician pulls Paul’s box out of its drawer and carries it to a makeshift cubicle where the box and its contents can be examined. Paul is given a pair of latex gloves to protect his hands from the soot. The box is charred on the outside but appears to be in good shape, so Paul is hopeful that the contents might have survived.
Paul gently opens the lid and peers inside. Paul’s hope turns to dismay as the box reveals nothing but the blackened remains of album pages, documents, and coins. The temperatures required to melt coins inside a steel box must have been immense. The albums' paper pages remained intact and appeared to have been turned into charcoal, more so than having been burnt. Paul can be seen lifting blackened individual coins out of the box and laying them onto a sheet of black plastic. As he lifts out the individual album pages, coins can be seen dropping from the holes. The pages themselves are very fragile and prone to crumbling.
Soon, Paul has before him a pitiful pile of burnt album pages and blackened coins. The back of Paul’s box contains important documents. Surprisingly, most of the documents remain relatively intact as single fragile pages. Paul can separate them and, if they don’t crumble apart, he can actually read some of them.
Three of Paul’s coins are illustrated in this article. Each coin shows severe discoloration and blistering of the surfaces. The melting point of silver is 1,763 degrees Fahrenheit, giving some idea of the inferno these coins endured. The contents of Paul’s box were a disaster. The heat, fire, and corrosive action of the World Trade Center’s destruction reduced Paul’s collection to that of the bullion value of the silver coins. Likewise, his documents were effectively unsalvageable.
It may come as a surprise to most people, but banks usually have no liability of any kind for the contents of the safe-deposit boxes in their care. However, because of the extraordinary circumstances of September 11, JP Morgan Chase offered to compensate Paul for his loss. They hired an outside appraiser to examine the box's contents and determine a replacement value for the coins. Surprisingly, the final settlement amount offered by JP Morgan Chase was higher than the hypothetical loss developed by the appraiser. However, Paul decided not to accept the settlement, opting to retain all 243 of his coins as memories of this historic event. He plans to donate some of the coins to museums, but the coins' bulk will remain with his family.
Paul Renda’s association with the World Trade Center goes beyond this story. Paul was working in Dean Witter Discover's offices in Two World Trade Center when it was bombed in 1993. He experienced the terror of huddling in a room-filling with smoke, not knowing whether to stay put or attempt to make it down to the street. He chose the latter. Paul’s cousin Thomas “Tommy” Farino died on 9/11 while responding to the attack. Tommy was a New York Fire Department Captain (the youngest named Captain of Engine Co. 26) and was promoted posthumously to Battalion Chief.
Ron Guth is President of PCGS CoinFacts. He has been active as a coin collector, dealer, writer, and auctioneer since his introduction to numismatics in 1964.
peacockcoins
...smallpox?
Any story from 9/11 is somber and usually heartwrenching, but as far as that person's numismatic loss is concerned, his modest collection as detailed in the article is undoubtedly far more valuable now than it was on Sep. 10, 2001. The historical connection to 9/11 makes them invaluable.
As for the hobo nickel....oops.
But if it hadn't been worked on it might have stayed in circulation and worn away to a dateless buffalo nickel.
The Secret Service should be getting involved on these intentionally defaced and damaged coins by a warped mind.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
I don't either.
I'll be curious to see what it sells for.
That's funny this certain coin is brought up in a thread. Just yesterday at my favorite B+M shop. They had the exact coin with a different date, 1935s, in the display case. Same artform. She was selling her's for $20. I was just about to pull the trigger, until I examined the coin closer. To me, it wasn't the same carvings and detailed look as most of the "hobo nickels" appear? More just dots everywhere? So I passed on it.
thanks guys
Now, I see this thread. The same coin appearance. Should I go back tomorrow and snatch this coin for only $20 or maybe even less?
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Pass. It is a low quality hobo nickel at best. Stick to those with "artwork" that shows some talent.
Pass. It is a low quality hobo nickel at best. Stick to those with "artwork" that shows some talent.
Just got home. Why, thanks for responding so late (or Early), I was just about to go to sleep. No, really thanks for the quick reply and good advise. I agree with what you said. This is why I was so hesitant on buying it then. It appears more cheaply done than most. I guess the one Keets put up has interest mainly because of the 18/7 variety? Thanks again.
Goodnight. or Good Morning! Lol
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Are any of those thru-holes?
If the one you saw was a1935-S and not the 1918/7-D over-date, the words “the exact coin” don’t begin to belong in your comparison.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
sold for $1,770 with the juice, lower than I had expected.
I still feel like I need to pick up creating Hobo nickels to fund my So-Called Dollar acquisitions!
,,, but far more than it should have brought.
Curiously, how do you determine what an item like that “should have brought”?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Time to give Hobo's a copy of The Red Book instead of money for food!

The buyer should give this coin to a true artist to "improve." Like covering up a bad tattoo
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Of all the lots in the Kagin's sale, is this the only coin worth having a thread on?
I make my own decisions on value. I consider that piece to be mutilated mess and of little value regardless of the fact that it the overdate. It is a coin I personally would not purchase.
Thank you. I wouldn’t buy it either, but I’m having an impossible time trying to decide how I’d value it.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
A coin owned by a member here- a 1796 quarter- that is in a wonderful condition outside of the fact someone stamped numbers around its obverse edge like a clock. It is still attractive in its own right. This nickel here isn't such. A rare date that is ruined by graffiti.
peacockcoins
A coin owned by a member here- a 1796 quarter- that is in a wonderful condition outside of the fact someone stamped numbers around its obverse edge like a clock. It is still attractive in its own right. This nickel here isn't such. A rare date that is ruined by graffiti
an interesting comment(s) considering your past forum behavior and penchant for "lowball" crap.
They don't have jurisdiction. Absent fraudulent intent, it is perfectly legal to deface coins.
(You also can't use them to carry commercial advertising).
When I shot this coin the bold overdate caught my eye.