HOBO DIME ?

[rjnail]

I found this while hunting up in NY. a few years ago, was told its a "HOBO DIME" no date on it. it is silver,,

 

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[Nana40]

Very nice find rj!

 

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[ZumbroKid]

Very possible it is a hobo dimse. there were many hobo nickle artists, some prefered to work with other mediums. Very important find here!

 

[lonewolfe]

Here's the Gold "Love Token" I found in a lake while detecting some yrs ago,,, I can't find my 2 silver ones at the moment but if I do, I'll post those too.

 

[lonewolfe]

Very possible it is a hobo dimse. there were many hobo nickle artists, some prefered to work with other mediums. Very important find here!

Original "Hobo nickels" were carved from "Buffalo nickels" by hobo's during the 20s/30s to portray the "images" of "hobo's"... They used the Indian on the Buffalo nickels as their "base image" to do their work & show their skills & make the nickels look as they did. That's where the "term" "Hobo nickel" came from.

They didn't use seated dimes, etc. because the "portriat" of lady liberty doesn't look like a dude to begin with, her face/head isn't big enough to work with, and is of the wrong "era"...

The seated dimes & gold dollars were of the "era & time" when the civilwar soliders carved "Love tokens" to wear & carry with them while away at war but to remind them of their loved ones back home, and or they would send them to their loved ones back home. Typically they carved the "initials" of their loved one/s on the pieces in fancy font (as shown on my piece above, and the piece from the original post here)...

Gypsy people adapted the "love token" carving later, and sold them as they passed from town to town during circus events, etc. as a way to make a $

These are all "documented facts" of our history...

"Class dismissed"!

 

[nhbenz]

Jeff of pa, those are some neat pics! I'd never seen such things, thanks!

 

[omnicognic]

I concur with the love token idea, here are some more examples:

 

[Colorado2]

Thanks for the "Schoolin'" LW...I learn something new every time I run across one of your posts. Now I've got a new item on my list of "TO FIND's".
Omni...are those your finds? Is that a cold coin? ~CO2

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

The seated liberty version of hobo nickles are called "potty" coins, usually the dollars and the half dollars. They are very expensive and make the lady appear to be using a chamber pot. On some her gown is removed and other features enlarged. Kinda like the dirty postcards of the victorian age. exanimo, ss

 

[lonewolfe]

Those are called "Potty Dollars" which you refer to exanimo,

there's a difference though,

the potty dollar is carved on a "Trade Dollar", not seated dollar,

values range but are generally around $120 to $150 a piece depending on the carvers quality, and coins condition,

here are 2 examples but are in poor condition, I wouldn't buy either one of these as most are in far better condition, and can easily be found on ebay..

hh

lonewolfe

 

[Southcacalaky]

Great finds from everyone, thanks for the education, HH Art...

 

[omnicognic]

Omni...are those your finds?? Is that a cold coin?? ~CO2

I wish they were my finds! Yes that is a gold coin, but those are pics I found on the net!

 

[Magnumto]

Fascinating topic! It appears that the people that can create things like this acquired all the talent I lack! Does anyone know if there is a convention regarding the initials - can one tell what order the initials are, or are there always 6 possibilities?
HH,
Frank

 

[JerV3]

Very nice. I would say a seated dime also. They did some really cool things with those coins. I know of a old hobo town around here. I guess everyone had one at one point or another.

HH Jer

 

[bk]

This is an awesome thread. How did I miss it before? Those are all some really nice Love tokens. I have heard of, and seen the Hobo nickels, but never heard of the "Potty Dollars". Some peoples imaginations!
I would think that you would have to be a pretty good engraver to risk doing that to a gold coin.

 

[treasures4me2find]

No matter what it was still a great find. Being new here, never heard of Hobo coins. Very interesting and you all had some great pictures. Just what I love about this site, I'm always learning something new. Thanks

Ken

 

[Keith (Indiana)]

Those are called "Potty Dollars" which you refer to exanimo,

there's a difference though,

the potty dollar is carved on a "Trade Dollar", not seated dollar,

values range but are generally around $120 to $150 a piece depending on the carvers quality, and coins condition,

here are 2 examples but are in poor condition, I wouldn't buy either one of these as most are in far better condition, and can easily be found on ebay..

hh

lonewolfe

Here's a better image: