Hobo Nickels

image: OHNS

The hobo nickel, an early form of creative currency modification, had its heyday during the circulation run of the Buffalo nickel, from 1913 to 1938. Since they were small, cheap and easier to carve, they were popular with hobos, who often used them to trade for food and goods. (Jefferson nickels and other denominations were used, but the old "Indian Head" design was considered best because the large profile gave the artists a greater area to work with and allowed for finer detail.)

The period from 1940 to the late '70s saw the Buffalo nickel almost completely fade from circulation and with this, the styles took a decided turn to the modern. In the early 1980s, there was a resurgence of hobo nickel carving and collecting and this time period marks the separation between the "old" and "modern" eras.

You can find many examples, old and new, at The Original Hobo Nickel Society.

Wikipedia provides a serviceable survey of the topic.

thanks to Ledgergermane for tip!

Hanna von Goeler - My Money, My Currency

Hanna von Goeler:

The interstitial quality of money as it travels from person to person is the point of departure for "My Money, My Currency". This ongoing project chronicles my struggle and relationship with money...

via CEE BEE

Error coins

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adanisherrorcollector's photostream (over 1000 error coins)

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stray bullets

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stray bullets

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Readings 5-23-08

Change is in the air for financial superclass:

Elites make billions on markets whether they go up or down and their institutions win government support while the little guy loses his home. Multinational chief executives 30 years ago made 35 times the wages of an average employee; today it is more than 350 times. The crisis has focused attention on the obscene inequities of this era - the world's 1,100 richest people have almost twice the assets of the poorest 2.5bn.

And after you own everything on the planet, including the air, dirt and water, what will you do with it then?

via John Robb
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Chinese magazine shut down for sexy quake pictures

The New Travel Weekly, a small lifestyle magazine, ran photos of sultry models in their underwear amid the debris in an issue that hit the stands on Monday - the first of three days of national mourning.

The press and publication department of the southwestern city of Chongqing, where the magazine was based, said it decided to close the magazine down for "rectification."

In China, "rectification" means a foot up the ass.

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ends

Cool Stuff You Can Do With Paper Money

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