With the push of the button, James Earle Fraser’s Type 1 Buffalo design is now preserved in 24-karat gold as part of the American Buffalo Gold Coin program. During the ceremonial striking ceremony, the Mint’s Deputy Director David A. Lebryk said the design “which have been American favorites since they were first used in 1913, recall a golden age of coin artistry.” The one ounce coin will be produced in uncirculated and proof versions. The accompanying pictures of the coins are from the US Mint Image Library (click the images to enlarge).

With the issue of the $50 American Buffalo Gold Coin, the Fraser Buffalo design joins Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Liberty Double Eagle and Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty as classic coin designs that grace US bullion coins. Both Weinman and Fraser studied and worked with Saint-Gaudens. Their coin designs are the result of President Theodore Roosevelt’s push to update US coinage to be the most beautiful in the world. Roosevelt commissioned Saint-Gaudens to produce classic, yet modern designs. Saint-Gaudens responded with the famous Liberty design used on the $20 double eagle and the Indian $10 eagle coins prior to his death.

Roosevelt was also instrumental in pursuing the Victor David Brenner designed Lincoln Cent to honor the 100th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. We will celebrate the Lincoln’s 200th birthday and the cent’s 100th anniversary in 2009 with four coins to commemorate the the life our 16th President.

That “golden age of coin artistry” continues is a tribute to the vision of Theodore Roosevelt and the love he felt for this nation. BULLY!

If you have not attended a meeting of your local coin club, you should find the time and go. Not only will you meet fellow collectors, but you might learn something that can inspire you in your collecting endeavors. One of the reasons I try to ensure I make it to the monthly meeting of the Montgomery County Coin Club is because I always go away with an appreciation for something different about the hobby.

At these monthly meetings, members are encouraged to bring in their monthly finds. After the brief business portion of the meeting, members make a short presentation on their finds. This week, Jerry Grzenda, a collector of world coins, brought in coins representing the last century of Iran. Jerry’s presentation included a history of Iran as seen through its coinage. It was a great learning experience and the coins were beautiful.

Another highlight of the meeting was the presentation by Ron Brais about Hobo Nickels. While I have heard about Hobo Nickels, all I knew about them was what I learned in passing. In listening to Ron talk, I learned that the original Hobo Nickels were created between 1913 and 1935 using only Buffalo Nickels because the design had large figures on both sides that could be used as the basis of the design. These elements allowed the carver to make just about any design, and usually did. Designs were as varied as the artists who carved them. Hoboes would use the carved nickels to trade for food, shelter, or other favors during their travels.

The most famous Hobo Nickel artist was George Washington “Bo” Hughes. Bo ran away from home at a young age and was befriended by a hobo identified as Bert. After a train yard scuffle, Bert took Bo under his wings, protected him from the tramps and bums and taught Bo how to carve realistic images into the Buffalo nickel. For many years, Bo would ride the rails and carve nickels living the life of the hobo as he looked for work to survive. Bo’s work on Hobo Nickels allowed him to eventually get a job as a craftsman. It lasted until 1957 when he cut his left hand while carving a nickel. At that time Hobo Nickels were no longer popular and Bo just faded away. He died in 1982.

The life and history of George Washington “Bo” Hughes has been immortalized in the book Hobo Nickels by Delma K. Romines (out of print).

Today, the Original Hobo Nickel Society has a number of artist members that are carving images into Buffalo and Jefferson nickels to keep the art alive. Some of the designs are ingenious and beautiful while others are copies of carving on older coins. Modern nickels are made using modern tools that allows the carving to look much cleaner than their older examples. The old methods and tools were not able to make clean lines but it gave them a character that cannot be matched.

The example of a Bo Hughes carved nickel Ron showed us was beautiful in its design and execution. The care and craftsmanship that went into carving that coin was evident. Hobo Nickels can sell from $200-$1500 depending on condition and the artist. Coins by Bo Hughes are worth more than others. I may have to add one to my collection.