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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,601 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1877-U-S-MI...301481191958I saw this auction and had no clue what to think of it. Did people actually carve Trade dollars like this in the 1800's? Or was this done later or a total fake. I'm guessing it's like a hobo nickle but a silver dollar seems pretty expensive for people to carve up back then.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Looks like a hobo nickel. Personally, it is unfortunate they didn't just leave it alone or perhaps it was damaged already?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Yes they were done back then. You have to remember that after 1876 they were no longer legal tender and were only worth the bullion value of the silver which was around 70 cents. Even with the engraving it was still worth that so there was no loss. With the engraving they became a novelty or a work of art and could be worth MORE that the coin was originally worth.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Oh, okay, it is like a hobo nickel that are worth significantly more than the circulated common Buffalo nickels. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Conder, I was under the impression the derogatory carvings were due to the universal dislike of the coins when they were issued. I think I remember reading that merchants of the time would not accept them in the US. Do you know if that is correct?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
Indeed, this is a "Hobo Trade dollar" as it were.... and ugh... A carved novelty. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Doe anyone else think this is a modern version? That razor looks like a Schick disposable.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Safety razors were already on the market then, but it wasn't until the turn of the century that King Gilette turned it into an industry. Maybe this is a little newer than contemporary, perhaps from the Hobo Nickel heyday as it was a well-circulated coin prior to the work. Quote:
Conder, I was under the impression the derogatory carvings were due to the universal dislike of the coins when they were issued. I think I remember reading that merchants of the time would not accept them in the US. Do you know if that is correct? All correct, although the "love token" idea was ingrained in the American psyche and such artwork might be artistically-motivated. I like to think so, at least.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Quote:
Doe anyone else think this is a modern version? That razor looks like a Schick disposable. That was my first impression as well. |
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Rest in Peace
 United States
1380 Posts |
I've seen these before, but that is far and away the most elaborate one ever.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Quote:
Hobo Nickel heyday as it was a well-circulated coin prior to the work. I noticed the wear on the eagle's wings on the reverse as well. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7615 Posts |
This is a modern version of a "potty" coin. Most older ones I have seen have been on Trade dollars and Seated half dollars but are not engraved to the detail that this one has been. It's neat but not 250$ neat. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
I can't see the razor well enough to say nything about it, I had hoped the label above the bed in the back ground might help but the use of the term in that sense dates back to 1785.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1192 Posts |
I researched them a bit after seeing this one. Usually they tend to be a lot more crude with liberty nude on a chamber pot. With this one she appears to be shaving on a washtub on top of a soap box. The entire thing has the look of a cartoon trying to depict a old timely scene. Almost like an Abe Martin comic book depicting hillbillies.
My gut says this was done in either the 1930's or in modern times by someone who grew up pre-1950's. It wouldn't surprise me if it was done in the 30's though given all the cartoon conventions etc used though.
Edited by Bertensgrad
01/11/2015 06:36 am
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,601 |
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Posted 01/10/2015 05:05 am
