Carved more Hobo Nickels!

And he doesn't use knives or nails to carve with.

 

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Or original period awls/ pocket knives/small hammer/screwdrivers/metal scrap fashioned into a rough tool/or a metal "punch" for eyes, etc.

 

My concern would be finding these in the after-market and thinking they are original from the hobo days. How can you tell the difference?

 

He has placed initials on the reverse of reproductions, to identify they are not period pieces, which he identifies as vintage pieces. The theory being that original period pieces did not have initials.
I asked the same question, and he answered, and I was pleased with the answer, although it assumes that an after market buyer would "know" that period pieces did not have initials carved on the piece. So.......still valid question? I think so, especially since the pieces (and please understand the quality and talent is evident especially if not using drills and/or modern metal working devices) have almost exacting appearance to original period pieces.

 

I think there were some pieces that were signed. I don't think anyone can say definitively that none were.

 

Back when Eisenhower was a hobo . . . . a very spirited hobo . . . .

Z

 

so, just ignore me if you don't appreciate my posts

 

That is true, although I have never seen a "signature", in the context we are discussing, on a period piece. There is excellent research by the Hobo Nickel Society, that has a very helpful "library" of the known classic artists. There can always be pieces out there somewhere, I agree.

 

Now that is how to gripe and participate in meaningful conversation. Well done.

I do appreciate posts, especially those that start with "So", since that is always a clear indication of enlightenment to follow.

I think I will go have some Oreos and milk now, and pout.

 

As in the collecting of anything, the buyer should educate themselves on the item to purchased. Hobo nickels or Tiffany lamps, it does not matter. There are counterfeit items everywhere (or at least items misrepresented). Do your research before buying. As members of CT say…buy the book before the coin.

 

Very artistic but I do not agree with defacing coins or currency, just my opinion.

 

Or apply the word "souvenir", or "facsimile", or "copy", or initials with date, etc. Of course it is a little cumbersome to do so, and takes up a lot of room that interferes with the artistic effort and/or intent. Maybe do so on the 3rd. side.

Research is fine, but the average person maybe buying a gift, as an example, would not be researching as a non-collector, I think.
That is the point of safe guards, to limit the disappointment and lower the chance of taking advantage of the unsuspecting.
It is good that the effort is/was made to apply a couple of small non-intrusive initials, but the number of collectors...even experienced collectors....is not many, that would be aware of the very low possibility that original pieces were not "initialed".

I do not think the intent of, or the reality is, that the pieces are "counterfeit" in the strict definition we apply in numismatics, though.

Buyer beware has limits of expectations, I think.

 

I don't believe that "defacing a coin" is the same as "using a coin as a surface for art," which is what I would label Brent's work as. Artists all over the world, for thousands of years, have used different surfaces for their art. Hobo's used what was easily available and small enough to carry around, which happened to be a nickel, and we have "labeled" them as "Hobo Nickels" which is now a generic term. JMHO

 

But, it is still defacing, however innocent or lack of nefarious intent.

There is always the issue of the piece being sold in the aftermarket as something "original", when it is not
I would speculate it is done, at auctions/flea markets, etc.

To me, a hobo nickel is an original period piece, and to me, if it is not, then it should be clearly stated it is not. I leave it to others to determine if initials reach that level of disclosure. To me, it does not. Period pieces are a part of Americana and the history of the times.

It does not seem difficult to me, for a talented artist to add the word replica and/or facsimile etc., to the third edge.

Not to put over the top emphasis on the subject, but we know that Warhol was definitely the artist, with artistic intent, because Campbells doesn't and never did make a soup can that large for consumption.

 

acceptable

 

So I ran across this unsigned carving.

It has just enough classic styling to make me question whether it might be by a vintage carver or not.

What say the experts?

Z

 

Not a nickel but still this one gets me every time.

 

Agreed. Great catch.

 

@potty dollar 1878 ,

Not an engraved coin, but someone had to engrave the dies.

That "someone" was George Soley. Comes in about 2/3ds the size of a penny.

Z