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5 Cents "Buffalo" - Cat in Hat Hobo
| Issuer | United States Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Cents (0.05 USD) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | This side retains the standard Buffalo Nickel reverse design, repurposed as the obverse of this hobo fantasy piece. A American bison (buffalo) stands in left profile on a raised ground line occupying the central field. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs along the upper periphery, with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM positioned to the right of the bison's hump. The denomination FIVE CENTS appears in bold relief along the lower periphery, with a mint mark below. The design is attributed to James Earle Fraser's original 1913 Type II composition. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A whimsical hobo-style fantasy engraving replaces the standard Native American portrait. The central device depicts an anthropomorphic cat dressed in a suit with a bow tie, wearing a rounded bowler-style hat adorned with small wing-like ear protrusions. The cat's face features prominent whiskers and a decorative monocle with a gear motif on the left side, lending a steampunk aesthetic. The legend LIBERTY arcs along the upper right periphery, and the date 1937 appears in the lower central field below the bust. The overall artistic execution is characteristic of the hobo nickel carving tradition, rendered here as a modern fantasy die-struck piece. |
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| Additional information |
Not a product of any mint. Hobo nickels are hand-carved alterations of existing coins — in this case a Buffalo nickel — reworked by an individual carver whose identity may or may not be documented. The "Cat in Hat" designation refers to a recognized motif within the hobo nickel collecting community, cataloged by the Original Hobo Nickel Society. The underlying Buffalo nickel dates to a series issued 1913–1938.