Hobo Nickels

gene1978 · November 19, 2015 12:10AM

I will be attending an auction this week that has a page of 10 Hobo Nickels. I do not know much about these. Will not be able to preview until Sat. morning. Any advice on what to look for.

ScarsdaleCoin · November 19, 2015 12:44AM

Personally I view each one as a miniature work of art. To me the best ones could be original carving or modern but prices will vary depending on many factors. There are many good books on the subject and the ohns is a great source of info. Hobos are well collected so good luck and welcome

abcde12345 · November 19, 2015 1:30AM

Old ones carved in the 20's and 30's VS newer renditions 'carved' today.

Please know the difference before bidding.

unclebob · November 19, 2015 1:41AM

Originally posted by: abcde12345
Old ones carved in the 20's and 30's VS newer renditions 'carved' today.

Please know the difference before bidding.

How would one determine the difference between new and old? Wear? Provenance?

joeykoins · November 19, 2015 3:08AM

Yes, I see these as an "work of art" as well. Like mentioned, be careful which you choose though. Have you ever seen the one that was selling for $6000 on EBAY? A great work of art indeed! $6000? You know what, I think it would be worth the price. Good Luck in your endeavor.

-joey

LanceNewmanOCC · November 19, 2015 5:00AM

How would one determine the difference between new and old? Wear? Provenance?

this would be like learning grading, counterfeit detection, attribution, altered coins, etc via crash-course. imo, can't be done.

takes years of guidance, tuition, blood, sweat and tears.

it is what it is.

better start googling auction results for known true americana hobos buffs and then surfing images of non-period hobo buffs to do some basic pattern recognition.

odds are they are mass-produced junk but it only takes 1 good one to start or add to a good collection or sell for a handsome profit to further the numis-addiction.

happy hunting

.

winky · November 19, 2015 5:09AM

Find out what you need to know or you will get burned. I don't know who to contact but try to find out before bidding. New ones aren't rare or worthy.

gene1978 · November 19, 2015 6:31AM

Thanks. I just have to see if I like them in the first place. I was think a max bid of $50 anyways for all ten. That about what they go for at this auction in the past. Most people are there for the silver and other coins. The oddball stuff usually does not go very high.

TopographicOceans · November 19, 2015 6:37AM

They are art, like others have said. Sort of like toned coins.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and any premium is based on how much you like to look at them.

If you can buy then for $5 each, then I'd do it.

Check out eBay's closed actions for these and see how much they are fetching.
See what people like and pay a premium for and you might want to increase your bid.
A lot of it is based on the artist too.

AMRC · November 19, 2015 7:52AM

There are those that can look at a piece of artwork and pretty much nail who the painter was by the style. The nickel's are the same way for some of the more prolific carvers in the 20's and 30's.

justcollecting · November 19, 2015 8:18AM

might want to start here

http://www.hobonickels.org/quickid.html

ScarsdaleCoin · November 19, 2015 10:40AM

Modern hobos fetch $150 - $200 if done by a great carver. Names like Howard Thomas, John Schipp, Shane Hunter to name a few. What doesn't sell well are stuff that's churned out from China but $5 each is a steal. Good luck. If you want my opinion just snap a pic and email me.

ricko · November 20, 2015 12:00AM

Wow... if they are original old art, $50 is a steal... Check out the Hobo nickel site...If you can

get them for that price, just take them and do the research later. Cheers, RickO

gene1978 · November 20, 2015 12:04AM

I will. We are to get snow tomorrow so that might keep a few people away so it could end up being better. I sold one in an auction in the spring and it went for $10 so I will just have to see what happens. I said the highest I would go would be $75 that way I could still just turn around and put them back in this auction in the spring.

gene1978 · November 22, 2015 3:03AM

The lot went for $100 for the ten of them. I thought about bidding $105 but was scared to because of the advice here and not know much about them. They seem to be modern and not the older ones.

BryceM · November 22, 2015 3:11AM

You have more self-restraint than I do.

....... let's see, what's the saying? Buy the book before the coin?

Well done.

dcarr · November 22, 2015 6:50AM

Originally posted by: gene1978
The lot went for $100 for the ten of them. I thought about bidding $105 but was scared to because of the advice here and not know much about them. They seem to be modern and not the older ones.

Even if you had bid $105, there is no guarantee that you would have won them. Who knows, the other bidder may have been prepared to go as high as $200 or more.

gene1978 · November 22, 2015 8:50AM

That could be true. $75 was my max for this lot and based on the past they went for what I thought they would $10 each. Just letting everyone know what happened and what I was thinking.

Hobo Nickels

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