Original Hobo Nickel Society

Archive of Bill Fivaz's "Hobo Nickel Grading Set"

"Hobo Nickel Grading Set"

These carved nickels will be sold at the 2009 FUN show in Orlando, Florida January 10th, 2009.

Superior Carved Nickels
A top-quality work of art by a very talented hobo nickel artist. There may be beautiful fine detailing, boldly altered features, unusual subjects depicted, pushed and raised metal techniques to enchance the relief (of hat brim, ear, nostril, etc.), messages engraved, etc., all masterfully done. They generally have nice eye appeal.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: Superior(H)/Superior 1927-P AU
[1] A beautiful partial cameo carving by “Bo” with a raised-metal ear, hat brim in center, and collar. The profile. Eye, nostril and smiling mouth are all altered. There is a gap between the sideburn and neat beard. A desirable signed and dated nicely toned carving. This is a plate coin seen on pages 48 & 49 of The Hobo Nickel by Romines. Signed “GH 28” under the collar.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: Superior Undated AU/BU
[2] This is a rare impressive, desirable, cameo portrait of Bert by “Bo.” There is great iridescent toning on both sides. Well carved, with a raised-metal ear and nicely chiseled field. This is Bo at his best. This is a plate coin described on page 49 of the Hobo Nickel Guidebook. It is signed “GH 52” & “BERT” below the bust.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: Superior Undated XF
[3] A very nice cameo carving by “Bo” with a small raised-metal ear and feathered fedora hat. Unsigned. Nice toning. Slightly altered nose. Long sideburns but no beard. Great eye appeal. This is a plate coin found on page 27 of The Hobo Nickel by Joyce Ann Romines.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: Superior Undated XF
[4] This is an excellent example of Bo's early 1950s cameo carvings, an artistic highpoint of his career. All features are very nicely carved, especially the hair and beard and raised metal ear. The chiseled field has an attractive appearance, and the obverse has wonderful toning. This is a plate coin described on page 43 of the Hobo Nickel Guidebook. It is signed “GH 51” below the bust.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: Superior Undated VF
[5] A nice signed and dated work by “Bo” small raised-metal ear, nicely carved hair and beard, altered nose, double collar. Deeply chisel-dressed field with LIBERTY removed. Nice eye appeal. This is a plate coin described on both page 36 and 75 of The Hobo Nickel by Joyce Ann Romines. It is signed “1947 GH” on the shoulder.

Above Average Carved Nickels
A very nicely done hobo nickel by a talented artist. Finely carved details, a nice ear, an altered profile, delicate detailing, and a nicely dressed field are features commonly found on Above Average hobo nickels. The hair may be nicely punched or carved, usually with a realistic texture. Accessories may be present such as a pipe or cigar, eyeglasses, an altered or enchance date, and wording in the field. Usually there are several, sometimes minor; features that prevent a high-end Above Average piece from being of Superior quality: some part of the design may be a bit sloppy; the Indian's hair design may be left unaltered on the dome of the hat; traces of the braid or feathers may still be visible; etc.

Unknown Classic: AboveAve/Superior 1913-P TypeI VG
[6] A partial cameo (dressed field surrounds the subject except for his shoulder). Nice flat-topped hat with 3-D brim (like infinity symbol). Glasses with both lens. Flattish profile (nose and lips). Nice ear. Nicely carved hair. Double collar. Dressed field with LIBERTY removed. Coin received some wear after being carved. Lots of character in the artwork and face.

“Bo” or “Bert” Classic: AboveAve/AboveAve(H) Undated F
[7] Several carvings just like this are known and believed to have been made by Bert or possibly “Bo.” Long fine wavy hair covers most of the head, face and neck. Finely punched field. Profile altered at top of nose to forehead. Light orange toning. The derby hat has a nice hatband with a ribbon in it. Nice eye appeal.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: AboveAve 1913 P TypeI XF
[8] A nice carving by “Bo” with a raised-metal ear (with internal detail), simple hat and collar, and nicely carved hair and beard. Lots of hair on forehead. Profile is unaltered. Field is dressed above the hat and behind the head This is a plate coin pictured on page 9 of Hobo Nickels by Del Romines.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: AboveAve 1913 P TypeII F

[9] The curly hair is a bit unusual for “Bo”. Nice ear, angular nose and nostril, lips enhanced, simple collar. LIBERTY removed. Field is a bit roughly dressed. Coin has nice iridescent toning.

Unknown Classic: AboveAve/Average(H) Undated-P XF
[10] This carving has nice eye appeal inspite of some dark toning spots on the hat and the field around the hat. The hat brim and ear are slightly raised which enhances the appearance of the carving. Slanted ear. Punched hair, beard, moustache and eyebrow. Bold collar. Deeply dressed field with LIBERTY removed. Profile unaltered.

“Bo”/Unknown Classic: AboveAve(L)/AboveAve Undated F
[11] This carving of the bust of a woman is bold, with nice contrast and great eye appeal. Nicely altered profile. LIBERTY removed. Heavy punches define and accentuate the hairdo. Several old women carvings like this have the “J.T.” initials (either the carver or the name of the woman depicted?). “91-19” also appears on the shoulder. Bill states this carving is “probably by Bo.”

Average Carved Nickels
A hobo nickel made by an artist with enough talent to create a nicely altered coin. Finer details may appear in the hat and collar(s), such as shading. Usually the feathers and braid are removed and these areas are decently dressed. An ear is usually present, and there may be some profile alteration.

“Flat Nose” Classic: Average(H)/AboveAve 1913-P TypeI VF
[12] This is a very nice example of the classic carver dubbed “Flat Nose” by Stephen Alpert in the April-May-June 2000 issue of BoTales. All the diagnostic features are present although the nose is only slightly flattened - vertically, not in profile. Nice eye appeal.

Unknown Classic: Average(H)/AboveAve Undated-D F
[13] This is a plate coin described on page 44 of Hobo Nickels by Del Romines. All features are well carved - the hat and brim, large round ear, the profile, and the narrow neck-collar-shoulder. LIBERTY removed. Hair created by short crossing cuts. Nice eye appeal, but the coin is dark.

“Flat Nose” Classic: Average(H)/AboveAve(L) 1915-P XF
[14] This work has most of the characteristics of the artist nicknamed “Flat Nose” - shallow hat, bow on band, incuse outline of ear, the hair-beard texture and on a 1915 5¢. However the double collar line and flattening of the nose is not present. Profile is unaltered. Good eye appeal.

Unknown Classic: Average(H) 1914-P VG/G
[15] This carving has very nice eye appeal. The hat, hatband, neck and shoulder are all accentuated with lines that add to this appeal. Subject has an altered nose and a well positioned ear. Punched hair-beard-mustache. Nose and nostril slightly altered. Simple collar. Nice contrast and eye appeal.

Unknown Classic: Average(H)/Average 1913-P TypeII AU
[16] The entire field is dressed with overlapping zigzag wriggle-cuts. LIBERTY removed. Dome of hat not well dressed. Ear is awkward - slanted and too far back on head. Simple tall collar. Punched beard, mustache and eyebrow. Simple lines for hair by the ear. Good eye appeal.

“No Neck” Classic: Average 1913-P TypeI AU
[17] This coin is one of the specimens illustrated on the cover of the April 1996 issue of BoTales where Bill Fivaz nicknamed “No Neck.” The artist created an awkward raised oversized collar The carver weakly dressed the braid in the collar area and didn't remove the feather.

Unknown Classic: Average/Average(L) Undated TypeII F
[18] The carver neatly converted the Indian into a bearded man wearing a skull cap, possibly a Rabbi. Possibly made by the same artist who did the “J.T”” woman (specimen 11) - similar overall appearance and punches in hair and beard. Profile slightly altered. Nice contrast and eye appeal.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: Average(L)/Average 1923-P G
[19] This is a “re-carved Indian” in which “Bo” turned the Indian into an Indian Chief. All the narrow carved lines are zigzag wriggle chisel cuts. The features may have been made with wide punched lines. Profile is unaltered. This is a plate coin pictured on page 90 of Hobo Nickels by Del Romines.

Unknown Classic: Average(L)/Average 1913-P TypeII F
[20] The shallow hat has a combined band-brim with bow. Faint crosshatching on dome. Narrow zigzag wriggle cuts form the hair-beard and moustache. The small ear is hidden in the hair. Simple collar un-dressed neck. The artwork has nice contrast.

Unknown Classic: Average(L)/Average Undated-P F
[21] Bold ear and pointy nose. Nostril, mouth and eye also altered. The hat, field at left, collar and shoulder are all chisel-dressed. LIBERTY removed. Crosshatching forms the hair and beard. Simple collar. There are lots of marks that distract from the eye appeal.

Below Average Carved Nickels
A decently-made hobo nickel, done by an artist with some limited talent. The workmanship is somewhat sloppy, and may be crude in places. A variety of tools and techniques were usually employed to form the various features that may appear on Below Average hobo nickels: hat details (brim, band), punched or carved hair and beard, an ear, collar, altered nose, etc. Usually there is an attempt at removing the feathers and braid and dressing those areas. Extending the hair down the braid is an awkward shortcut that mainly appears on Below Average to Average hobo nickels.

Unknown Classic: BelowAve(H)/Average 1935-S AG/G
[22] A small arc-punch was used to create the hair, moustache and goatee. No ear. Nose profile is altered. Simple lines form the collar. Probably created circa 1960-1980. Artwork has some similarity to the late works of “Bo.” Toning is also somewhat like that by “Bo.”

“Bo” Hughes Classic: BelowAve(H)/Average(L) 1934-D
[23] A bald clown with a ball nose and clown makeup around the eye and mouth. Large ear and earlobe. Large diagonally-lined collar. Field is roughly dressed. This is a plate coin described on page 84 of Hobo Nickels by Del Romines.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: BelowAve(L)/BelowAve 193_-P VG
[24] A post-injury “Bo” carving. Typical “Bo” style nose. Punched hair, ear and beard. An “S” punch was used for the hair behind the ear. Simple hat and collars. Field dressed by rough chisel work. LIBERTY chiseled off. Toned dark. Has low eye appeal.

“Bo” Hughes Classic: BelowAve(L)/BelowAve 1936-D G
[25] This is a plate coin pictured on page 93 of Hobo Nickels by Del Romines. The Indian is wearing a flat-topped hat with feather hanging down the back. A simple post-injury carving by “Bo” with dark orange tobacco toning.

Crude Carved Nickels
A poorly-made hobo nickel. Usually made by someone with very little or no artistic talent, who probably wanted to get into the action of creating hobo nickels upon seeing how well the better makers were doing. Crude quality hobo nickels often consist of just punches or scratches that outline a hat and form a beard. A single punch (forming a dot or dash) may be used repeatedly to create the design. Probably a nail or screwdriver, and a hammer, were the tools used. Other pieces may have rough scratches or chisel marks, or poor attempts at carving. The features are roughly formed, and usually there was no attempt to remove the feathers and hair braid, or dress the field. Alterations such as adding an ear or changing the profile generally were not attempted, as they require artistic talent beyond the limited abilities of the makers of crude hobo nickels.