1916 - 5 cents small hobo nickel 'Nymph & Satyr' Denver Mint

1916 - 5 cents small hobo nickel 'Nymph & Satyr' Denver Mint

5-cent coin - based on Liberty 5 cent

aka small hobo nickel - theme 'Wood nymph and satyrs' 

Brass coin with antique silver plating

Obverse: the image of 'nude wood nymph and satyrs' - 1916

Reverse: altered 5 cents with beast skeleton

Minting : D aka Denver Mint

Diameter: 20 mm

Uncirculated condition

Info on hobo nickel coins :

The hobo nickel is a sculptural art form involving the creative modification of small-denomination coins, resulting in miniature bas reliefs. The US nickel coin was favoured because of its size, thickness, and softness. However, the term hobo nickel is generic, as carvings have been made from many different denominations.

The altering of coins dates to the 18th century or earlier. Beginning in the 1850s, the most common form of coin alteration was the "potty coin", engraved on the United States Seated Liberty coinage (half dime through trade dollar) and modifying Liberty into a figure sitting on a chamber pot. This time period was also the heyday of the love token, which was made by machine-smoothing a coin (usually silver) on one or both sides, then engraving it with initials, monograms, names, scenes, etc., often with an ornate border. Hundreds of thousands of coins were altered in this manner.

Due to its low cost and portability, this medium was trendy among hobos, hence the name.

A hobo is a migrant worker or homeless vagrant, especially one who is impoverished. The term originated in the Western United States around 1890. Unlike a "tramp", who works only when forced to, and a "bum", who does not work at all, a "hobo" is a travelling worker. 

Sammlung : United States Mint