There are very few Hobo coins that I actually like. I feel as if they deface them and most of them have sexual scenes on them. Although Dan Carr coins ARE pretty cool! @ZoidMeister
Do they get under your skin, or did another thread pose this question? I have seen many a hobo nickel that I like, not enough to pay the asking price. I think most are boring and repeated designs. But to each his own.
Not really my cup of tea. However I do seem rather drawn to some of what I have seen referred to as Love Tokens. Perhaps because they have a story to tell.... To me a hobo nickel isn't as much of an art as it is something to do when you are bored. rather like whittling a stick.
I like contemporary Hobo nickels that were done by real Hobos in the era of the Depression but what I don't care for are when perfectly good older nickels and silver dollars are permanently defaced and etched into in the present day. So contemporary = good and recent = bad.
There are collectors who like trade dollars with all of the chopmarks, and there are collectors who enjoy love tokens. Heck, there are even collectors who intentionally wear down coins in their pockets just so they can add them to their P-01 Registry Sets. So, what is the difference?
I only like the 30s era "Hobo Nickels" as they tell a story of the time. Newer, contemporary ones are simply artwork on coins and while I've seen some really nice ones, I wouldn't be in the market for them.
How the heck did you know that I've been on a Hobo Nickel buying spree lately? You stalking me young gun? (Just kidding, but not kidding about the buying.) I'll try to get a few photos posted up. Do you want to see the sellers photos, or of the actual item when they arrive? Z
I like the older ones, but not really most moderns. I really dislike seeing moderns with dates......come on, there are enough dateless ones you can deface. Modern ones with a date on it makes me want to punch something. Are we going to celebrate defacing bust halves next?
I have a couple, here's one of them here! I bought this one at a coin show I went to years ago. My other one is in storage and it's an actual vintage hobo nickel from a Buffalo Nickel!
I'm guessing you saw the other thread where Hobo Nickels are being discussed? I just ran across it myself. I'll try to upload a few of the sellers photos tonight. I cannot access the sales site here from work. Z
I was able to do it with my phone. I like the more vintage style of some artists. I bought two already and am hoping to secure a couple more. These two are on their way to me. Z
I think if done well, they can be really cool. I don't have the same issue with "defacing" coins like some do here. It's an art form and some are really gifted at it.
I can appreciate the original contemporarily done hobo nickels. I do not like the modern pieces done in the hobo nickel style. I can appreciate the modern engraved coins. These in my opinion are NOT hobo coins and should not be called Hobo. My only complaint against the modern engraved coins is they seem to suffer from artistic constipation with a very juvenile fascination with skulls and skeletons.
Love 'em or hate 'em, they are part of history. Hobos riding trains, many just trying to find work to stay alive. A bygone era that is kept alive by the hobo coins. Good or bad, depends on your take of retelling of poverty and hard times.