One of the most exciting releases of 2016 in the precious metals marketplace was the Hobo Nickel Silver Round Collection from Osborne Precious Metals. On their travels across this great country, hobos whittled away the time by carving their own designs into some of America’s circulating coinage. The most recognizable designs came on the face of America’s five-cent pieces, due in large part to the availability of the coins being higher in circulation and the surface area being larger to work with.
While the 2016 Hobo Rounds celebrated the beauty of America’s hobo artists again on the obverse and reverse face of an exciting series of silver rounds, the new collection will take investors and collectors in a different direction with an exciting new array of silver for sale through the 2017 Hobo Silver Round collection.
About the 2017 Hobo Silver Series
For 2017, there will be a total of five designs released in the new hobo collection. Rather than focusing on the carvings of hobo artists that were once popular on American coinage, these designs will bring to life the very best of the abilities of modern coin carvers. The images will blend an old-world look and feel with the latest in silver round production quality.
In total, five designs are expected from five different artists. The first of these designs is the image of Durer’s Knight from Roman Boteen. Subsequent designs include the following concepts and artists:
- The Fisherman/Graveyard Shift by Chris DeFlorentis
- Trains by Steve Adams
- Jowls and His Pet Buffalo from Bill Jameson
- Vikings created by Aleksey Saburov.
With each new release in the 2017 Hobo Silver Series, there will be changes compared to the 2016 Hobo Nickels. While the latter program had 1 oz and 5 oz rounds available in both proof and antique, the new 2017 Hobo Silver Rounds will feature only an antique finish on 1 oz and 5 oz rounds in each release. Additionally, the mint altered the mintage figures based upon the performance of last year’s hobo silver products.
Mintage figures for both types of rounds were increased, with 1 oz antique silver rounds now featuring a mintage limit of 5,000 and the 5 oz antique silver rounds featuring a mintage limit of 2,500 rounds.
Introducing Durer’s Knight
The first design release in the 2017 Hobo Silver Rounds collection features the image of Durer’s Knight created for this release by Roman Boteen. One of the more haunting images from medieval time period of human history is that of Albrecht Durer’s knight as he rides through a devilish scene. Known as Knight, Death, and the Devil, the original artwork wasn’t a drawing, but instead was a chiseled work on a copper plate.
Durer’s depiction of the knight riding through an eerily evil scene is said by some to a depiction of the biblical scriptures. In Psalm 23, the book reads “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Durer’s Knight is clearly passing through something very similar.
However, other scholars believe Durer’s inspiration may have come from his own life and fears. He was one of 17 children in his family, but also only one of the two in his entire family to live to adulthood. Death surrounded his life as his 15 other siblings passed due to disease outbreaks, with Durer even writing “Anyone who is among us today, may be buried tomorrow.”
On the obverse of all 1 oz Antique Durer’s Knight Silver Rounds you’ll find the image of Durer’s Knight, faithfully recreated by Boteen. The original creation featured the rider moving through a narrow gorge with a goat-headed devil behind him and death riding a pale horse in front of him.
The reverse of the 1 oz Antique Durer’s Knight Silver Round includes the image of a haunting tree, with a human skull visible beneath its trunk and a sword coming out from under the sprawling network of roots supporting the tree.
All Durer’s Knight Silver Rounds have an antique finish for added beauty. Products with an antique finish have added warmth in appearance and depth to the overall detail of the round. Additionally, your 1 oz Antique Durer’s Knight Silver Round arrives in protective plastic with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
All Hobo Nickel Series silver rounds are struck at the Osborne Mint, which is the oldest private minting facility in the United States and is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company can trace its roots back to the 1830s. The rounds are a collaborative work between the mint and Heads or Tales Coin Company.
Get Your 2017 Hobo Silver Rounds from JM Bullion
JM Bullion is one of the proud authorized dealers of 2017 Hobo Silver Rounds. The Durer’s Knight round is available now, and don’t forget to check back with our online catalog on a regular basis as the remaining four designs become available later this year. Don’t forget you can also check our website to find the latest price of gold and silver.
