Beautiful, authentic piece of American numismatic folk art—a classic-era hand-carved Hobo Nickel.
This piece was meticulously crafted using a genuine Type 2 Buffalo Nickel (minted between 1913 and 1938, featuring the buffalo standing over a straight line)
The artist focused entirely on transforming the original Native American portrait into an "Anonymous Traditional Chief" with spectacular, high-skill structural alterations.
Key Design Elements & Artistry: * The Headdress: Completely re-engraved with deep, crisp geometric square feathers housing fine internal line work. * The Ear: Expertly re-carved into a distinct, stylized semicircle cutout that serves as the perfect foundation for the new headgear layout. * The Neckline: Features a beautifully long, detailed accent feather trailing gracefully down toward the lower rim.
* Intact "LIBERTY": The original word LIBERTY was carefully preserved by the carver to showcase its legal-tender origins.
Condition & Authenticity Notes: The coin exhibits an outstanding, completely uniform smoky-grey patina. The metal inside the microscopic lines of the square feathers matches the natural aging of the flat fields perfectly, confirming this is a true older, classic-era carving rather than a modern reproduction. I do not see any initials or artist marks.
Please examine the photos carefully to appreciate the phenomenal detail and to judge the condition for yourself. A premier addition to any Hobo Nickel registry or folk-art collection.
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