Money Talks:
HOBO NICKELS −by Bill Fivaz
The annual national convention of hoboes takes place in August in the
small Iowa town of Britt. A king and queen are crowned and feted with a
parade and mulligan stew.
What's that you say? This isn't quite your "cup of tea?" Well then,
that's because you must not be a collector of hobo nickels.
The year was 1935. The nation was in the midst of the Great
Depression. Money was tight--and people did whatever they could, just to
exist. One of the most interesting and creative ways for itinerants, such
as hoboes, to survive those tough times was to carve coins--changing a
coin's original design into something else.
In 1913, a new 5c coin was minted--the "Buffalo Nickel:" a truly all
American coin. It featured the profile of a large Native American's head
on the front, and a powerful buffalo on the reverse. Because the designs
on this coin had such large figures on both sides--it allowed the hoboes a
great deal of creative latitude. And did they ever take advantage of it!
The Indian's head was transformed into soldiers, clowns, ladies and
even past Presidents. The most popular subject was an ethnic person,
usually wearing a derby and sporting a beard. This whole group of carved
5" pieces are referred to as "Hobo Nickels."
While we consider the common "nickel" almost worthless in today's
economy, it was a considerable sum in the 30's--when one of these unique
carved coins could be bartered for a night's lodging or a hot meal. Some
hoboes were more skilled and creative than others, and a few even initialed
their works. A few may be found with the buffalo carved into a donkey, an
elephant, a turtle or, in one case, the undeniable bust of Mark Twain!
So if you see an odd-looking carved nickel in your grandmother's
jewelry box, chances are it once meant that a hobo had a warm place to
sleep for the night--or some good home cooking from your kin-folk!
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