Hobo "Nickels" (actually coin art) . . . . . let's see yours!

ZoidMeister · December 21, 2020 2:13PM

In my exonumia quest, I have also run across a few "hobo nickels" that have caught my eye. Wish I could afford some of the early ones, but there are a very few contemporary artist creating some very interesting AND unique carvings worthy of notice.

I'm not talking about the stamped imported stuff, but real, hand crafted / hand carved coins. I think there are a few artists out there worthy of notice and worthy of mention.

I have two more coming in, but here is my current collection. These are by an artist named Steve Phelps who goes by "SteveOrino" on the bay and elsewhere. I have been watching his work and know that each coin is hand carved and different. I think he may be laser engraving his signature and some other features, but none of the "similar" designs are exactly the same.

Let's see yours . . . . . . . !
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"Uncle Bartholomew"

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"Uncle Melvin"

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**"Santa Baby #10"
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"Skinny Enrique"

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"Uncle Hellboy"

coinsarefun · December 21, 2020 2:44PM

Wow!!!

JohnnyCache · December 21, 2020 3:01PM

Only have one, a modern carving by Robert "Deadman Jeweler" Morris

Namvet69 · December 21, 2020 3:16PM

At the WFOM in Phila, I watched an artist transform a nickel. It was really interesting. I don't recall why I didn't buy one. These show some real talent. Peace Roy

johnny9434 · December 21, 2020 4:05PM

Yes true talent I like

Onastone · December 21, 2020 4:07PM

I don't have a Hobo, but it's on my list. These look great!!!!!

divecchia · December 21, 2020 4:36PM

Here is mine.

Donato

Raw

Inserted in a picture frame.

MWallace · December 21, 2020 5:00PM

@divecchia said:
Here is mine.

Awesome!! Is it an original Hobo Nickel?

MWallace · December 21, 2020 5:05PM

divecchia · December 21, 2020 5:26PM

@MWallace said:

@divecchia said:
Here is mine.

Awesome!! Is it an original Hobo Nickel?

@MWallace I believe it is, but I am no expert. I purchased it at a show and showed it to a few dealers and they all believed it had the right look to be an original Hobo Nickel.

Yours are cool also. I really like the detail on the first one.

Thanks for sharing it, Donato

MWallace · December 21, 2020 5:30PM

@divecchia said:

@MWallace said:

@divecchia said:
Here is mine.

Awesome!! Is it an original Hobo Nickel?

@MWallace I believe it is, but I am no expert. I purchased it at a show and showed it to a few dealers and they all believed it had the right look to be an original Hobo Nickel.

Yours are cool also. I really like the detail on the first one.

Thanks for sharing it, Donato

The 1st one is original and graded/authenticated by the OHNS. I believe the 2nd one is original too.

ZoidMeister · December 21, 2020 5:37PM

I'm my opinion, Steve Phelps (SteveOrino) comes the closest I've seen to capturing the essence of the historical hobo carvers in his work.

Yeah he does some interesting modern pieces, but his classic designs are incredible for his asking price.

Z

EDIT: I confirmed with Steve earlier this evening that he does everything on these by hand, including his signature.

Z

OnWithTheHunt · December 21, 2020 5:59PM

Swampboy · December 21, 2020 6:11PM

IkesT · December 21, 2020 6:45PM

A hobo quarter with Type H reverse.

The artist probably chose this coin by pure coincidence. This makes it something of a novelty, as the variety itself is fairly hard to find.

Knell · December 21, 2020 7:10PM

Here's mine....
I don't know who made these but I am including info from coins 2x2.
1930 is from Millesburg area?
1935 S from Millesburg area?
1936 D from Carlisle area?
1937 S from Paris area.

Here's a Jesus modern engraving and signed

This I don't know much, looks modern engraving

Any info on these would be appreciated.
Thanks.

erwindoc · December 21, 2020 7:43PM

Has anyone here ever tried to make one? I imagine that a dremel makes pretty quick work of silver, but would be quickly bogged down in nickel.

Jinx86 · December 21, 2020 10:04PM

No new nickels. Did get this for my wife as a gift. She was thrilled. Hard to match up initials, but I finally pulled it off.

specksynder · December 21, 2020 10:34PM

Here are pics of some of mine. Not the highest quality, but handmade and a blast to create. I have a complete set of Buffalo Nickels that are all different designs. Here's a pic I found online of a short set I created:

ZoidMeister · December 22, 2020 4:07AM

@specksynder said:
Here are pics of some of mine. Not the highest quality, but handmade and a blast to create. I have a complete set of Buffalo Nickels that are all different designs. Here's a pic I found online of a short set I created:

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Those look very high quality to me. They embody the spirit of early hobos.

I especially like the masked native Americans. Great pieces.

Z

habaraca · December 22, 2020 6:32AM

No longer mine but one of my favorites

DCW · December 22, 2020 6:34AM

A couple years ago, there was a great opportunity for anyone that was into Hobos. I think Heritage or Stacks hosted the collection, and the auction realized big $$$.
Many iconic pieces from "Bo" and "Bert," founding fathers of this form of artistry.
I do believe a forum member here has quite an admirable collection, and added some from that sale.
Can't remember who, though

DCW · December 22, 2020 6:42AM

It was Heritage, Jan 2019.
None of these are mine, but you can see how these little guys can get expensive quickly when they are original pieces from well known masters of the era.

ricko · December 22, 2020 6:48AM

Hobo nickel art is interesting. I looked for these for years as a kid....never found one. Actually visited hobo camps up by the railroad, hoping to find one....never did. Lots of good modern work out there as well. Cheers, RickO

MWallace · December 22, 2020 12:18PM

I have this one in my collection of Potty Coins.

ZoidMeister · December 26, 2020 7:05AM

Here are a few photos from the artist of coins that I have inbound in the clutches of the USPS.

I'll post photos "in the hand" when they arrive.

Z

ZoidMeister · December 26, 2020 7:10AM

A couple more.

Z

ZoidMeister · March 23, 2021 9:40PM

Trying to forget about delivery items that DIDN'T get delivered, here is a piece that did make it to me successfully.

A piece from my favorite Hobo Nickel artist SteveOrino entitled "Uncle Freeman."

It is an amazing portrait of Morgan Freeman in nickel.

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ZoidMeister · March 23, 2021 9:51PM

And all good artists must do a self portrait at some point.

Here is SteveOrino's self portrait in nickel entitled "Uncle SteveO" . . .

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dcarr · March 23, 2021 9:54PM

I've only done one:

ZoidMeister · March 23, 2021 10:05PM

@dcarr said:
I've only done one:

I'm letting my cat out of the bag here, but I've bought a couple extra of your 1913-2013 Native American/ Bison Commemorative pieces with the explicit intent to send them to Steve to carve . . . .

The additional material around the image of the coin gives him a lot of extra "canvas" to work with, both obverse and reverse.

Z

ZoidMeister · April 19, 2021 7:17PM

For those who haven't seen the other thread, here are the two Daniel Carr 1913-2013 Native American/ Bison Commemorative pieces I sent to my favorite hobo nickel carver to have transformed into something special.

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GRANDAM · April 19, 2021 9:17PM

BigFoot

Harry Henderson BigFoot

Uncle Charlie D

Uncle Donald

Uncle CD

Uncle Ernest

Uncle Amos

Uncle Larry King

Uncle Bart

Uncle Carroll

Uncle Cyranco

Uncle Deets

Mr Lindy · April 20, 2021 4:10AM

Hunter S Thompson "Bat Country" by Deadman Jeweler

MWallace · April 20, 2021 4:25AM

Two "original" Hobo Nickels.

This first one was bought from Bill Fivaz and authenticated as Original by the OHNS.

This second one has not been authenticated by OHNS, but I believe it to be original. The PVC in the photo have been removed by an acetone dip. The reverse was PVC'd even worse. Much better now.

Mr Lindy · April 20, 2021 5:00AM

Ron Landis' Skull Carving from 1994.
His 75th sequentially numbered hobo.

ZoidMeister · April 20, 2021 9:24AM

@MWallace said:
Two "original" Hobo Nickels.

This second one has not been authenticated by OHNS, but I believe it to be original. The PVC in the photo have been removed by an acetone dip. The reverse was PVC'd even worse. Much better now.

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I would tend to agree. You can see remnants of some hobo symbols behind the portrait . . . . . .

Z

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coinsarefun · April 20, 2021 9:47AM

@LindyS said:
Hunter S Thompson "Bat Country" by Deadman Jeweler

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This drawing is amazing. In my early years before architecture I wanted to be a graphic artist. I was not good at all
in human figures but anything related to structures or nature I was pretty good at.

MWallace · April 20, 2021 12:41PM

@ZoidMeister said:

@MWallace said:
Two "original" Hobo Nickels.

This second one has not been authenticated by OHNS, but I believe it to be original. The PVC in the photo have been removed by an acetone dip. The reverse was PVC'd even worse. Much better now.

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I would tend to agree. You can see remnants of some hobo symbols behind the portrait . . . . . .

Z

Oh wow!! I never even noticed. Thanks for pointing it out. I'll see if I can figure out what symbols they are.

dpoole · April 20, 2021 2:42PM

Here's another J. Allen specimen. A common theme of his, but the only one I've owned:

ZoidMeister · April 20, 2021 3:01PM

Here is an older SteveOrino that I was fortunate to pick up. Isn't here yet, better photos when it arrives . . . . . . .

I kinda like the nickel he worked over for this one . . . . . . . . I need to find out what year he did this one.

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78saen · April 20, 2021 3:15PM

ZoidMeister · April 20, 2021 3:34PM

@78saen said:

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You shouldn't have oughta showed me THOSE . . . . . . . .

Z

ZoidMeister · April 20, 2021 4:24PM

I got better photos of "Cuz'n Barry" from the artist . . . . . . . .

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Mr Lindy · April 21, 2021 5:26AM

Three from MR. THE

ZoidMeister · April 22, 2021 2:16PM

A couple new arrivals from my favorite nickel artist - SteveOrino

The one on the right is an older carving I found on Ebay
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"Tecumbalam" and "Cuz'n Barry"

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Mr Lindy · April 27, 2021 10:34AM

Happy Hobo Tuesday

Hobo "Nickels" (actually coin art) . . . . . let's see yours!

Comments

You shouldn't have oughta showed me THOSE . . . . . . . .

I got better photos of "Cuz'n Barry" from the artist . . . . . . . .

A couple new arrivals from my favorite nickel artist - SteveOrino

"Tecumbalam" and "Cuz'n Barry"

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