From Defaced Currency to Folk Art: The Legacy of Hobo Coins During the Great Depression

Hobo coins, also known as hobo nickels, are a unique form of folk art that emerged during the Great Depression in North America. These are coins that have been defaced and re-engraved by hobos, itinerant workers who travelled the country by “riding the rails” on freight trains. These workers, who were often destitute and without a fixed address, would modify coins to create small works of art that they could sell or trade for food and other necessities.

The practice of modifying coins dates back to ancient times, but hobo coins as we know them today have their roots in the United States and Canada during the 1920s and 1930s. At that time, hobo culture was prevalent in North America, and hobos would often carry tools for engraving and shaping coins in their pockets as they travelled.

The coins used for hobo art were often nickels, as they were large enough to provide ample space for engraving, but small enough to carry easily. Hobo artists would use a variety of tools, including knives, files, and punches, to carefully remove the original design from the coin and create a new image. The resulting artwork was often highly detailed, featuring everything from caricatures of famous people to landscapes and scenes from everyday life.

Hobo coins became a form of currency among hobos, who would trade them for food or other goods, and they also became popular among collectors. During the 1930s, some hobo artists became famous for their work, and their coins were highly sought after. In fact, some hobo coins from this period are now considered valuable collectors’ items.

Hobo coins and hobo nickels were also popular among transient workers in Canada during the same period as in the United States. Canadian hobos created their own unique designs, often featuring images of Canadian wildlife, such as beavers and moose, or prominent Canadian figures like Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada.

One of the most famous Canadian hobo coin artists was George Washington Hughes, also known as “Bo” Hughes. Born in Ontario in 1895, Hughes left home at the age of 16 and spent the next several years traveling across Canada and the United States, working odd jobs to survive. During his travels, he began carving hobo nickels, and his work quickly gained recognition among other hobos.

Hughes’ carvings often depicted animals, landscapes, and portraits of famous figures, and he was known for his exceptional skill in creating lifelike detail in his carvings. His work was featured in galleries and exhibitions across Canada and the United States and remains highly sought after by collectors today.

Despite the fact that hobo culture declined after World War II, the tradition of hobo coin art has continued to this day. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in hobo coins, and artists from around the world have taken up the practice of engraving coins.

Hobo coins are now considered a form of folk art, and they have been the subject of numerous exhibitions and books. They have also inspired a new generation of artists who are fascinated by their history and the intricate skill required to create them.

It would seem that defacing currency, or at the very least, defaced currency, has woven itself into the history of folk art in North America. These coins not only served as a means of artistic expression but also as a form of currency and identification among hobos. Today, hobo coins and hobo nickels remain popular among collectors and are a testament to the resilience and creativity of those who carved them.