How many of you good folks have ever found a hobo nickel?

[gitterdug]

It is on my "want-to-find" list before I die. For those who have never seen one, here is a tinyurl link to a google image search on them. http://tinyurl.com/y8pbqhh

Back in the 1930's or so, hobos used to carve these nickels to pay for lodging, food, etc. Some are amazing. I don't know of anyone who has found one. How about you good folks? If so, could you share a pic?

HH

Dennis Wynne, Hoboless

 

[Hopskippy]

I had never even heard on a "hobo nickel". That is very interesting! Thanks for posting the question & the link. I will certainly be looking to land one of those!

 

[Texcavator]

Is there a certain area of the country where this practice ran prevalent among the Hobos?
Very interesting. Seams like maybe I have heard that term "Hobo Nickle" many years ago but had long forgotten before I
had first gotten into detecting. Thanks for the link!

 

[Tfor2]

Great thread.

This is a new one on me. Never heard of it before.

I'm sure glad you posted this because if I ever found one I would have thought it some cheap token and probably just given it to some kid to play with.

While we're on odd finds, I did find something many people wouldn't know and they'd think it was trash. A couple years ago I dug a very large and heavy Rose Gold chain. Rose gold was popular in the early 1800's and when dug looks like junk. The reason for this is because it's 75% gold and 25%copper alloy. Buried, the copper tends to seep out and hide the gold so the piece looks like cheap junk jewelry.

When I dug my massive chain nearly 30" long and almost as heavy as a wrist bracelet I thought it was a Coo Coo clock chain and almost threw it away. I did a light cleaning and it suddenly turned a pinkish-gold color. I posted a picture on another forum and several members told me what I had found. Until then I had never heard of Rose Gold.

Thanks for the leg up on the Hobo nickels.

 

[Ism]

Well, I guess I wont be throwing those "rose-gold" chains way out into the lake anymore when I dig them......

Great information, thanks.

 

[Jay4]

They have been around awhile they are worth anywhere from 15.00 to 50.00 depending on the age and condition.They are still made today amazing what a dremel tool will do.Sometimes its hard to tell a old one from a new one.I used to be a coin dealer. Thats why i got in to MDing. Sorry about the history lesson.

 

[TURNMASTER]

Ya those are cool. Thought about trying it myself. Problem is I am not that artistic.

 

[fir469]

15-50 dollars is a low range... Some go for thousands if the design is nice and the details are sharp. The highest odds of finding one of them would be along railroad tracks and near railroad stations as that was the main mode of transportation for hobos back in the 30's...

 

[Tfor2]

I was thinking too bad we don't still have hobos....but then I remembered we have liberals.

 

[Jay4]

Thats very true. lol