We have about 300 active members, and welcome more. Each issue of BoTales (except for the December auction catalogue issue) contains news, illustrated articles on hobo nickels and the artists who made (or currently make) them, articles on hobo history and related collectibles (such as old hobo postcards and modern struck hobo tokens), historic old hobo cartoons, recent sales information, and more! Members may participate in our auction, submit articles, and buy our annual hobo tokens and publications often at a discount. Included is a subscription to our quarterly journal BoTales and the annual auction catalogue. The OHNS is devoted to collectors of all hobo nickels, both old and modern. But since 1995, some very talented engravers have been producing beautiful original design carvings, some of which are worth as much as the nice old original specimens, which they may resemble. These are fairly easy to recognize as modern.

In the early 1980's, after articles and the first book on hobo nickels appeared, several people began creating copies of the old hobo nickels. The goals of the Society were to start a newsletter (BoTales, now published quarterly), begin a hobo nickel evaluation service, educate numismatists and the general public about hobo nickels, and conduct an annual auction of hobo nickels to raise money to sponsor ANA scholarships for young numismatists. The OHNS was formed at the 1992 ANA Summer Conference in Colorado Springs, after Bill Fivaz presented a slide show on hobo nickels. Each hobo nickel is unique as they were all individually hand carved, using the design of either the Indian or the buffalo as a base, and altering it to another design altogether. Named after the people who popularized the craft, hobo nickels were made by wandering hobos (people who often traveled by hopping freight trains) in the U.S. Its design is true Americana! The years of its reign, 1913 to 1938, takes us through some of the most memorable periods in the history of the United States the first World War, Prohibition and the Roaring 20's, and the Great Depression. The term hobo nickel might not sound like anything special, but don't be so quick to judgeit's an impressive art form. The Indian head nickel is one of the most admired of all U.S. We all share an appreciation for Hobo nickels! These unique pieces of metal combine the fields of numismatics, folk art, and history. Thank you for your interest in the Original Hobo Nickel Society! We would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about the society.