Original - Indian Head Nickel
As an Engraver I work on many different items. Jewelry, trophies, knives and custom fly rod parts all cross my workbench. One of my favorite items to engrave is the Buffalo Nickel. Gangsters, clowns, soldiers and of course Hobos have all appeared on the obverse and sometimes reverse on my nickel carvings. Because Hobo Nickels are not as well-known as the other items I engrave, I am often asked a lot of questions. The question I am asked most frequently is, "How do you carve a Hobo Nickel?"
To demonstrate, I have carved a nickel in Traditional Style. By traditional style I am carving my new Hobo Profile using the existing features of the Indian. I am not carving outside the original Indian profile border and I am leaving the coin field clean. The finished affect I am trying to achieve, is a Hobo Nickel carved so well that it appears it was made by the mint. It is this challenge that drives me to improve with every carving I do.