What Are Hobo Nickels? A hobo nickel is carved as opposed to engraved. Little by little metal is shaved away or mounded to create a miniature bas relief sculpture. Historically these coins were made by hoboes, itinerant workers, who often traveled by hopping freight trains.

Over 700 enlarged photographs of hobo nickels are illustrated in the 126 page spiral-wire-bound book. The purpose, methods of creation, and the components of hobo nickels are discussed. The most common type of hobo nickel is the standard design depicting a bearded man wearing a …

Once we gather together all the old Kaiser hobo nickel pictures (say we find 100) they should be illustrated (randomly) and individually numbered, in an issue of BoTales. Then we ask all OHNS members/BoTales readers, to study the pictures and let us …

OHNS is devoted to all collectors of hobo nickels, both old and new, and prefers the term "modern carvings" for the recently created carved coins. The term "hobo nickel" is a generic term for altered nickels, and does not imply that hoboes made most of the early carved nickels.

articles about hobo nickels in COIN WORLD magazine and then published the book HOBO NICKELS in 1982. These articles and books spawned a new generation of hobo nickel carvers, some of whom copied earlier classic designs from photos which had appeared in Del’s book. A second book, The Hobo Nickel was published in 1996 with Del’s wife, Joyce ...

Oct 3, 2006 · first began to be carved into the 1950s, while modern hobos encompass those coins carved since then. Hobo tokens are a recent development created first by Del Romines and since produced for the annual meetings of the Original Hobo Nickel Society (OHNS).

The Original Hobo Nickel Society has just published its Hobo Nickel Guidebook authored by Stephen P. Alpert, which presents an up to date guide to hobo nickels and their values. Both classic old hobo nickels and modern creations are presented, with …

Aug 2, 2004 · Of course these modern carvers are not hobos at all, so the term "hobo nickel" is a misnomer. Whatever they are called, these tiny works of art have become popular and the better carvings fetch respectable prices when offered for sale.

Bert was born circa 1890, began carving hobo nickels in 1913, spent some time in prison in the 1930's (where he continued making hobo nickels for the guards), and was last seen in the late 1940's, selling hobo nickels at flea markets.

The OHNS is devoted to collectors of all hobo nickels, both old and modern. Member Benefits Included is a subscription to our quarterly journal BoTales and the annual auction catalogue.