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

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.

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.


Let's see yours . . . . . . . !



Z

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

Z



"Uncle Bartholomew"







"Uncle Melvin"







"Santa Baby #10"







"Skinny Enrique"







"Uncle Hellboy"

 

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Not mine but my favorite

 

No offense, but that one looks "stamped" and not carved.

Mass produced?

Z

 

No offense taken.

 

Ebay purchase..

 

I've seen those being made. Definitely carved.

 

Who's the artist on both? Half of my intent of creating this thread was to give the artists a bit of visibility.

Love the Indian.

Z

 

View attachment 1221932

 

I don't have any, but FFIVN has one. We looked all over the last Baltimore Whitman show that happened trying to find one that was in his price range. This is the guy that came home with him:

 

Post up the artists name if known folks!

Some of these I would like to see their Fer Sail items.

Z

 

Thought I would share a few photos of additional carvings I have coming in. These are still in the posession of the USPS. I'll take "in the hand" pictures when they arrive. Here are the sellers photos.

Z

 

Oh I love that 1937 with the GS steam locomotive.

 

There is a Hobo Nickel club that has set up at the Fun Show in the past. They teach the art and I think you can even buy the tools. There are even young kids making these at the table. Fun to watch the process. It's cool seeing how they can move the metal around to make the design.

 

That would be the "Original Hobo Nickel Society"
I just ordered there 2021 Token

 

@CamaroDMD
The other one "Reading T-1 I had commissioned the artist to make for me.
both style engine were used for the "American Freedom Train" during the Bicentennial.

 

That is really good. Not to nit-pick...but the locomotive depicted on the 1937 coin is a GS-2 or a GS-3...while the SP4449 that did a leg of the Freedom Train is a GS-4 (by serial number, it now has roller bearings so is mechanically equivalent to a GS-5).

I have a Lionel O-gauge GS-2 sitting on the shelf behind me right now.

I love the SP4449 and when I was a kid one of my childhood highlights was seeing it roll through town heading down to some train event in California. We take the kids to ride on it every Christmas (except this year of course).

Anyway...anything depicting a Daylight locomotive has a special place in my heart.

Wasn't of the American Freedom Train locomotives destroyed in a fire?

 

@CamaroDMD
Yes the Reading T-1 was destroyed in a fire, It ran as the Chessie Steam Special
In 1975, the locomotive was restored to operation from scrapyard condition in an emergency 30-day overhaul after being selected to pull the first eastern portion of the American Freedom Train. On March 7, 1979, while being stored one winter in a Chessie System roundhouse in Silver Grove, KY, 2101 was severely damaged in a fire.
Then it was replaced with C&O 614. I did get to ride behind 614 from Hoboken, NJ
to Port Jarvis, NY. What a trip to bad I have loss/ misplaced the images from that trip.
( Chessie Safety Express was Chesapeake & Ohio 4-8-4 'Greenbrier' no. 614)
By the way there are several Reading T-1 being restored now one may run in 2021.
Engines # 2100 & 2102
PS: I have a Reading T-1 #2100 Lionel O scale next to me on my display case.

 

Very cool...I always loved the Lionel Chessie Steam Special. I plan on putting two more Lionel locomotives in my home office and it was very nearly one of the ones I was planning on getting. Currently I have the 1992 Lionel GS-2 Daylight 6-18007 on my bookshelf. My parents gave it to me as a Christmas present when it was new and I was a kid. It ran for hours and hours in my childhood.

I want to pair it with the 1983 GS-4 Lionel 6-8307. I just haven't picked one up yet. I also plan on a 1992 Pennsylvania S2 Turbine 6-18010 for a different shelf. I remember drooling over that one in the Lionel catalog when I was a kid.

 

@@CamaroDMD
Pennsylvania S2 Turbine That's a beauty.
This past Christmas I gave my kids some of my collection, all ho
2- Reading T-1 the AFT & Chessie Steam Special and the Lionel 4449 AFT
Now that I'm 76 it's time to pass my collection on including my coins.
It's a great feeling.