Hobo Nickel Guidebook by Stephen P. Alpert

The narrow raised brim is above the ear, and has pointy wrap-around ends. The diagnostic characteristics for identifying hobo nickels made by Big Ear are :ġ) The distinctive big ear as described above.Ģ) A shallow derby hat placed high up on the head. The ear has a nice outer ridge, a lobe at the bottom, and nice internal ridges.

So this unknown artist needs a nickname, and I have chosen Big Ear based on the prominent large ear he carved on his hobo nickels.

Plus I saw a third example in a coin dealer's display case at a coin show this year (very similar to my 1914 nickel). Recently, another similar hobo nickel by the same unknown artist was submitted for OHNS Quality Designation (the 1913 piece illustrated here). It is one of my favorite hobo nickels in my collection. Alpert, LM-10Īt the bottom of page 23 in the OHNS Hobo Nickel Guidebook you will see the 1914 hobo nickel illustrated here. The same tool could have formed the pebbles on both illustrated specimens.ĥ) 1913 NICKEL Both specimens are on 1913 nickels. The nostril is also enlarged.ģ) THE MOUTH The very unusual alteration of the mouth has the lips together at the profile, but towards the rear of the mouth opens up with a downwardly curved sneer.Ĥ) THE PEBBLY FIELD The enlarged field is dressed on both nickels with a small pebbly texture, probably created using a small beading tool.

Thus there is much more space between the head (and the small hat) and the border.Ģ) THE WILD EXPRESSION The subject displays a hyper-energetic wild or ferocious expression and appearance. The other pictures a man wearing a small derby, with a short rough beard, and a high collar.īut I believe that the following five diagnostic features, listed below, when taken together indicate that the same artist, here dubbed Wild Man, made these two hobo nickels.ġ) THE SMALL HEAD The Indian's head is significantly reduced in size. One hobo nickel depicts a man with a round knit cap and long straggly hair and beard, with a rounded ear. Note how different the hats are, as well as the hair and ears. 2) the two nickels by Wild Man illustrated here do not look all that much alike when first observed. The nicknaming of this unknown artist as Wild Man differs in two ways from all the previously nicknamed artists: 1) the nickels of this artist are rare (I know of only these two, but more probably will be reported in the future). Previously nicknamed unknown hobo nickel artists (see the OHNS Hobo Nickel Guidebook) all created hobo nickels that generally looked alike at first glance. OHNS webpages often have too many graphics/pictures to display swiftly.

Hobo Nickel Guidebook by Stephen P. Alpert