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Were you aware of this art form?
A “hobo nickel” is a coin that has been carved out, resulting in miniature bas reliefs. Many involved the Buffalo nickel of 1913–1938, which was 75% copper and 25% nickel, hence easy to carve. Its heyday was the era of the railroad riding, transient workers (“hobos”), who carved them while riding the rail-cars or between jobs, displaying their skill, and sometimes black humor.
But regular artists also took up the practice. Some examples, both vintage and more recent.
Hobo nickel - Wikipedia
A “hobo nickel” is a coin that has been carved out, resulting in miniature bas reliefs. Many involved the Buffalo nickel of 1913–1938, which was 75% copper and 25% nickel, hence easy to carve. Its heyday was the era of the railroad riding, transient workers (“hobos”), who carved them while riding the rail-cars or between jobs, displaying their skill, and sometimes black humor.
But regular artists also took up the practice. Some examples, both vintage and more recent.
Hobo nickel - Wikipedia