THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

   Sometime in 2000 an Indiana coin dealer offered me a hobo nickel, which he had for sale. I turned it down, but a couple of days later I changed my mind, and being unable to contact him by phone, sent a priority mail "call me collect" letter. I did get the coin for $12.50, but the phone bill was $24.00.
   A few months latter I answered a hobo nickel advertisement in Numismatic News, only to find that Steve Elliott was not selling a coin, but his collection of BoTales Publications, these I also couldn't live without. I had one duplicate issue, which I gave to a local coin dealer, who at the time told me of a woman that had been in with a "really nice" hobo nickel, which he thought was authentic, and she had left her phone number. After much chasing and trading (guns and marbles and etc.) I had two beautiful hobos. That peaked the interest!
   A vise from a retired gunsmith, a visor magnifier, some no date buffalos, and a couple ground down files (which I still use on every coin) I had a new hobby. I had always been fascinated with gun engraving, and this was my chance to get my feet wet. With everything packed into a watertight plastic case I could take it with me anywhere, but mostly on fishing trips, and if it rained or whatever I could carve on my nickels. Those first "pretty good" ones look "pretty tough" now.

Joey Kaahpiihaatei                            The                                 President         
(Kickapoo for Brown)                         Wiz                           Andrew Jackson     

Carved Fall 2007

   I remembered an article in BoTales (spring 2000) about Bill Jameson and how much a microscope had helped him improve his coins. Armed with a webtv, I went to ebay, and with help from Art Hutchison found one in October. (Boy was Bill ever right) Mine is a hit and miss learning experience, that I totally enjoy. You have the library books, hobo nickel books, and BoTales, but without the help from other carvers and support from people like Verne Walrafen it would be a very frustrating experience, even though you do learn something on every coin carved. I have moved my equipment from my shop into the house for the winter, and it has worked very well, but I am still looking foreword to getting back out to the shop where I have more room.
   I am 70 years old, and have been married to Pat for 50 years. We have two sons, and live on 38 acres 70 miles south of the Canadian border. Being ex-resort owners and hunting quides, we both enjoy the out of doors. I hope that I will have the opportunity to carve many more BOs as I feel, in most cases, that the next is better than the last and that the best is yet to come.