Introducing Heritage Hank

By Arturo DelFavero RM552 with Owen Covert RM686 with Ralph Winter LM37

This hobo artist has been dubbed "Heritage Hank" by Arturo DelFavero and Ralph Winter after six examples of his work appeared in a recent Heritage auction. We are not sure whether they were old hobo nickels made circa 1940 to 1980, or modern ones made after 1980. There is a nickel by the same artist on page 27 of the Hobo Nickel Guidebook by Stephen Alpert. Steve, also, does not know when these carvings took place.

The carving characteristics consist of very smooth fields by use of rubber wheel evident, subjects carved with hand gravers, no use of gravermax or gravermiester present. Point round and line gravers used to create shallow to medium relief carvings. Ears are oval shaped with scooped out centers. Hair is graved or stippled and or both Collars are line graved. Features (nose, eyes, and mouth) are graved and accentuated with age lines and wrinkles, and an assortment of devises used such as hats and cigarettes.