Hobo nickels

Kccoin · August 30, 2018 11:13AM

who likes hobo nickels? here is a fun piece I picked put of the last page of a Buff dansco. it looks a little better than than a basic example. Please share a Hobo if you have one.

Paradisefound · August 30, 2018 11:14AM

May I see the reverse?

Timbuk3 · August 30, 2018 12:49PM

Cool, I'd like to see the reverse too !!!

Kkathyl · August 30, 2018 1:02PM

that ear is crazy good

Kccoin · August 30, 2018 1:02PM

@Paradisefound said:
May I see the reverse?

yes ma'am

all three sides now shown. I am completely blown away by the coin edge, as I did not see this at first. It is clearly engraved "AL"

thefinn · August 30, 2018 1:26PM

That is a great place for an artist to sign their pieces.

SeattleSlammer · August 30, 2018 5:20PM

Nice

divecchia · August 30, 2018 5:51PM

That's a cool piece. Thanks for sharing it.

Here is my one and only Hobo nickel.

Donato

1630Boston · August 30, 2018 5:55PM

Great hobo

Onastone · August 30, 2018 6:00PM

No Hobo Nickels here....but that's on my wishlist.

Namvet69 · August 30, 2018 6:01PM

I watched an artist engrave a hobo nickel at the WFM. She showed great skill with her engraving tools. Peace Roy

1630Boston · August 30, 2018 6:05PM

See next post
thanks

1630Boston · August 30, 2018 6:10PM

Actually, here is the better video that I was looking for
https://youtu.be/nfRxBbj11Ds

Onastone · August 30, 2018 6:21PM

That's so amazing. Here's a Hobo Cent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvzCVH86GMs

RogerB · August 30, 2018 6:22PM

Only if they are legitimate products of the 1930s -- modern imitations are just tourist fodder.

Twobitcollector · August 31, 2018 2:46AM

How about a hobo half dollar

Twobitcollector · August 31, 2018 2:48AM

I have a couple of nickels also.

Zoins · August 31, 2018 4:03AM

I like both classic and modern hobos. Some modern carvers are very talented. A lot of great modern carvers are at the:

Original Hobo Nickel Society

http://www.hobonickels.org/

This one by Roman Booteen sold for $10,101 just over a year ago:

https://twistedsifter.com/2017/08/hobo-nickel-silver-dollar-with-trap-jaws-roman-booteen/

jmlanzaf · August 31, 2018 4:56AM

On a side note, shouldn't we use a different term for modern defacement of coins? I mean "hobo nickels" were called that because they were carved by hobos. A modern artist messing with coinage is not at all the same thing, and not simply because they aren't hobos. The collectibility of a vintage hobo nickel is much higher than most of the contemporary "tourist fodder" (to use RogerB's term).

Zoins · August 31, 2018 5:39AM

@jmlanzaf said:
The collectibility of a vintage hobo nickel is much higher than most of the contemporary "tourist fodder" (to use RogerB's term).

This doesn't match what I seen, but perhaps what I've seen is limited. To me, it seems collectibility increases when the artist is known and has a following. At the same time, many vintage hobos aren't attributed and don't seem to sell for very much.

grip · August 31, 2018 5:50AM

Some just run out of "steam"

ricko · August 31, 2018 5:57AM

I do not have a hobo nickel.... I would like to get one of the 'old' one's...I will say that there are some super talented modern coin artists out there now, and some that just produce the above mentioned 'fodder'...Cheers, RickO

jmlanzaf · August 31, 2018 8:18AM

@Zoins said:

@jmlanzaf said:
The collectibility of a vintage hobo nickel is much higher than most of the contemporary "tourist fodder" (to use RogerB's term).

This doesn't match what I seen, but perhaps what I've seen is limited. To me, it seems collectibility increases when the artist is known and has a following. At the same time, many vintage hobos aren't attributed and don't seem to sell for very much.

The handful of high profile artists command a premium, which is why I said "most". A genuine name (Bo Hughes) hobo nickel is $500ish these days. Maybe a couple hundred for anonymous vintage nickels. Most modern hobo "artists" are selling "tourist fodder" for $10 or less.

jmlanzaf · August 31, 2018 8:23AM

@Zoins said:

@jmlanzaf said:
The collectibility of a vintage hobo nickel is much higher than most of the contemporary "tourist fodder" (to use RogerB's term).

This doesn't match what I seen, but perhaps what I've seen is limited. To me, it seems collectibility increases when the artist is known and has a following. At the same time, many vintage hobos aren't attributed and don't seem to sell for very much.

I don't know if these links will work or help, but...

https://coins.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?N=790+231+51&Nty=1&Ntt=hobo&ic10=ArchiveTab-071515://

archive.stacksbowers.com/?q=ab6f2a9a-0cdf-4ed5-bc4b-05fe7a3e1733

https://ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=hobo+nickel&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1

Kccoin · August 31, 2018 9:14AM

both the modern and vintage types are works of art. I like the story and the vintage of the old type.

@jmlanzaf said:

archive.stacksbowers.com/?q=ab6f2a9a-0cdf-4ed5-bc4b-05fe7a3e1733

quite a few good pieces in the Stack's offerings. thanks for posting this

JeffersonFrog · August 31, 2018 10:55AM

I just obtained this a couple of weeks ago, by accident in a small group of buffs. I guess it's a Hobo nickel. It's not signed and not very good, but I think I'll keep it for a while.

jmlanzaf · August 31, 2018 11:20AM

@Kccoin said:
both the modern and vintage types are works of art. I like the story and the vintage of the old type.

@jmlanzaf said:

archive.stacksbowers.com/?q=ab6f2a9a-0cdf-4ed5-bc4b-05fe7a3e1733

quite a few good pieces in the Stack's offerings. thanks for posting this

Yes, there were some tremendously good hobos in that one auction. Of course, I got outbid on everything. LOL.

I'm not arguing that they aren't works of art. But technically, so is a velvet Elvis painting. There is a LOT of modern "hobo elvis paintings". Grouping those with vintage hobo nickels seems, at best, inaccurate to me. I mean, we don't call "potty dollars", "hobo dollars". And some modern nickels are all but stamped into the coins. They aren't all Booteen caliber.

Hobosapian · September 3, 2018 6:10PM

Nice! The “AL” stands for Anatoly Lerenman. He’s a carver currently living in Chicago.

Hobosapian · October 2, 2018 2:12PM

Here’s a handful. Many of these are some of the very best known classics.

Hobosapian · October 2, 2018 2:13PM

A few more.

grip · October 2, 2018 2:23PM

Maybe the old hobo passed away before he could finish it?

Unknown · October 2, 2018 6:30PM

This content has been removed.

Kccoin · October 2, 2018 7:41PM

wow, some very nice examples you have there @Hobosapian

DCW · October 3, 2018 3:30AM

@Hobosapian said:
A few more.

These are some of the most amazing pieces of 20th century Americana I can think of! Real works of art. I always enjoy when you post these. Congrats on acquiring so many great examples for your collection

Cameonut · October 3, 2018 4:27AM

@RogerB said:
Only if they are legitimate products of the 1930s -- modern imitations are just tourist fodder.

I feel the same way - old school.
And how does one tell if you are looking at a classic hobo or a modern one? Since I can't answer the question, I own zero hobos.

Hobosapian · October 14, 2018 7:16PM

How can you tell? You buy coins from me when I have them for sale!

I can tell the difference, so a lot of people stop and see me at shows where I can discuss it with them in person.

ScarsdaleCoin · October 15, 2018 5:20AM

Chris has a great collection but since each is a work of art there is nothing wrong with the “moderns”. Some of the moderns are incredible masterpieces and bring great joy to their owners. One of my favorite carvers is John Schipp
Here is one that sold for over $400 back in 2014

OldEastside · October 15, 2018 5:35AM

Those are cool

Steve

ricko · October 15, 2018 5:42AM

@Hobosapian.... Those are awesome.... Congratulations on an incredible collection of old Hobo nickels....Very impressive. Cheers, RickO

LanceNewmanOCC · February 9, 2022 8:39PM

hobo!

Mr Lindy · February 9, 2022 8:55PM

Authentic Vintage Hobo's !!!!

Love your handle Hobosapian !!!!

@Hobosapian said:
A few more.

ScarsdaleCoin · February 9, 2022 9:03PM

Lot to choose from here Hobos

https://m.coinhelp.com/hobo-nickels.html

vulcanize · February 9, 2022 10:47PM

Probably have a modern knock off even though there was something on the side if I remember corrctly, but it could have been nicks

Picker1954 · February 10, 2022 11:44AM

I added this to my Full horn set of Buffaloes.

moursund · February 10, 2022 12:27PM

Hobo nickels (classic) always modified the obverse?

ZoidMeister · February 10, 2022 4:48PM

A couple pieces of mine . . . . . both obverse and reverse.

Z
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ZoidMeister · February 10, 2022 4:56PM

And some by the same artist on classic coins . . . . .

Z
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Morgan "Uncle" Freeman
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Classic Style Hobos
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ZoidMeister · March 5, 2022 7:43AM

Connecticoin · August 29, 2022 8:19AM

So this one was a "cherrypick" from a Buff Nick folder that I threw of Ebay and sold for $360 - makes me wonder if I
got cherrypicked, given the closed Heritage auctions posted above.

Fraz · August 29, 2022 9:22AM

Great stuff.

ifthevamzarockin · August 29, 2022 9:30AM

I saw this cool one for sale quite a few years ago but wasn't able to buy it.

Hobo nickels

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