The Original Hobo Nickel Society

Founded in 1992, The Original Hobo Nickel Society is mostly devoted to folk art derived from Indian Head or Buffalo nickels minted from 1913 to 1938, whose thick profiles made them perfect for carving. Feature articles from the Society’s member newsletter, “BoTales,” are reprinted online, and its annual auction catalog is also published online. The crown jewel of the site is the Nickel Carver’s Showcase, where you will find examples of Hobo Nickels produced by contemporary carvers, as well as a link to Stephen Alpert fine illustrated article on dozens of classic carvers (the Old Nicknamed Artists Synopsis at the bottom of the page is a terrific resource).