I understand that melting of coinage is technically not illegal, but I was under the impression the defacing them was definitely a no no. If that is true, then wouldn't hobo nickels be considered defaced coinage?
Yea i think it comes down to its illegal when you try and pass off lets say a nickel for being worth 50 cents.
550! wow after a quick search allot of the nice Hobo nickels are big money. I guess there are allot of collectors for them that drive a high price??
Yes, defacing US coinage is illegal - IF IT IS DONE WITH THE INTENT TO DECEIVE. Making a hobo nickel is completely legal. Scratching a coin is legal. Trying to make a cent fit into a dime slot is illegal
As long as they are still selling it as a nickel they should be fine. If you have the skill it seems to be a great way to make some money. I wonder how many hours are in some of these... I would love to buy some of the hobo nickels I have seen online, I would be willing to pay a decent premium for a nice one. There are also some that are garbage. I think paying 2000x times face would be about right (maybe 3000x or 4000x). Sounds crazy when I put it that way. The key with these is that you have to think of them as original artwork and not an item that was produced by the thousands/millions like our coins are.
Probably is to someone. Some of these take quiet a time to create and I can see a price like that. Some of the billzach coins are awesome.
As mentioned defacing coinage is legal if there is no fraudulent intent. The same is NOT true with the US currency. Defacing currency in such a way as to render it unfit to be reissued is illegal period. It doesn't matter whether there is fraudulent intent or not. (Frankly though, everyday use will eventually render it unfit to be reissued, so if you take it to the absurd extreme, using currency is illegal.)
Well, it is art, and some of the artists are really good and pretty well known. Depends on who it is.
I've don't like/never have liked the idea, period, nor do I like the colorization of coins or paper money...most esp U.S. coins/money, using them as backdrops or easels for art, etc., no matter by whom. To each their own.
