If It's Ilegal To Deface Coins, How Come People

It's illegal to deface a coin for the purpose of fraud. Hobo nickels, elongated cents, charm bracelets, heck -- even melting 90% silver -- is all fine. Oh, coin rings are ok too.

Selling copper pennies for the purpose of melting is no-go.

and so I flaunt my activities:

because it's not destroying the coin, it's turning it into some artwork. It takes a coin with 13 cents of numismatic value and gives it $20 of collector/art value.

I have never heard of a hobo nickel until just now. I think they are amazing. People are talented!

Hobo Nickels are a true American form of art. You have to use a coin to start the process, and lots of people use dateless coins, but they are worth less. I have plans to not only make Hobo nickels and sell them on ebay IF I can do it and I'll be making rings from coins. The coins I'll be using will include some very rare dated coins. I'll use Barber quarters and Halves, Standing Liberty quarters, 2 Cent Coppers, Morgan and Peace dollars and any other coins that are the correct size for a ring.

I'm planning on using Gold Eagles and double eagles once I have the talent to do so, but I'll do my best to use coins that have scratches, holes and have major damage in the area that has to be punched out to make the ring opening. If my carved coins look like trash, I'll never touch a gold coin and I'll stop any plans of modifying coins.

I've had maybe 20 Walking Liberty halves that were scratched and holed at the center. I really don't like the thought of ruining a valuable or rare coin.

I have no plans on defacing a collectible coin right now, BUT, if I was asked to use a coin for a ring, I would do so no matter what it was. I would also buy any coin if a buyer asked for a certain year, but it would be a pay first project.

If a buyer has a coin worth $1000s of dollars and wants it made into a ring, I WILL TRY TO DISCOURAGE THEM. I'll ask if I can find a coin like it in damaged condition. If they insist on using the coin they have, because it's one of their Great-Great Grandfather's and they want to wear it every day, so be it.

I know it will kill me to punch a hole in a AU, MS of PR coin with any value over spot, but the buyer dictates what they want. I'll be charging the amount that I've paid for the coin PLUS the work I do.

Once they pay for a coin, It's up to them what happens to it.

They will get what they want and I'll be happy to make the ring they ask for.

At least it's not sending it to be melted into a lump of gold. It's something they can show to everyone they meet and tell the story of how they got it and who owned it before.

At this point it becomes more that just a ring or just an old coin; it can become a family heirloom, passed from father to child and desired by other members of the family.

The law actually reads



The key word is "Fraudulently". If you make a Hobo nickel and sell it as a hobo nickel you are Ok. If you say it is a mint error and ask $$$$, you are fraudulent.

If you take a silver dime and elongate it and trim the edges to "save" some silver you are committing fraud if you sell it as an elongated dime.

If you are being straight and honest about it, you can carve or roll them to your heart content.

IMO, Jim

If it was against the law, they would have to shut down Brookfield Zoo. They have those machines all over the place that takes a pennie flattens it and puts an animal face on the thing. Costs $0.50 each to do it too. My grandaughter and her niece have now got about 20 of those.
Guess the Pennie police missed that place. One of the cheapest things there though.

And Seaworld Orlando too justcarl, I've gotten a few elongated pennies from there.