1913 Type 2 Original Hobo Nickel Hand Carved OHNS Textured Beard Wrinkles Hat
1913 Type 2 Original Hobo Nickel Hand Carved OHNS Textured Beard Wrinkles Hat
A classic original hobo nickel on a first-year 1913 Type 2 Buffalo nickel, distinguished by a boldly individualized portrait and excellent folk-art character.
The obverse has been hand-carved from the familiar Native American portrait of James Earle Fraser’s Buffalo nickel into a bearded male profile wearing a broad, angular hat. The artist added a heavily textured beard, incised facial wrinkles, and sharply cut hat details, transforming the host coin into a distinctive miniature work of American trench and folk art. Portions of the original date remain visible at the lower obverse, confirming the 1913 host coin. The reverse retains the standard Type 2 Buffalo nickel design, with the American bison standing on a straight ground line above FIVE CENTS, surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM, translated as “Out of many, one.”
The coin displays deep olive-gray and charcoal-brown color with darker accents in the carved recesses, emphasizing the beard, hat bands, and facial features. The surfaces show the honest wear and handling expected of a circulated host coin, while the handwork remains bold and visually engaging. The carving is particularly notable for its dense beard texture and expressive facial modeling, both of which give the piece strong character and display appeal.
Hobo nickels occupy a beloved specialty within American numismatics, blending circulating coinage with individual artistic expression. The Buffalo nickel series, introduced in 1913, quickly became the preferred canvas for carvers due to its large portrait, rugged relief, and distinctly American imagery. The 1913 Type 2 host adds further appeal, representing the modified reverse introduced during the first year of issue, after the original raised-mound reverse proved vulnerable to rapid wear.
Each original hobo nickel is effectively unique, with collector demand driven by quality of execution, originality, subject matter, and visual personality. This example offers the desirable combination of an early Buffalo nickel host, a clearly defined carved portrait, and strong textured detail throughout the beard and hat. A compelling and highly collectible piece of American numismatic folk art.
| PCGS # | |
| Grading Service | NONE |
| Grade | NONE |
| Mint Location | NONE |
| Year | 1913 |
| Designation | NONE |
| Strike | Business |
| Grade Add On | NONE |
