Nickel carving goes way back. It has been an American tradition ever the Great Depression, when some homeless people carved designs into nickels, selling them for more than five cents. That is why they are called “hobo nickels.” It was a craft that could earn them extra money. Of course, back then you wouldn’t have seen any Star Wars characters on them.
The craft of nickel carving has become popular again recently and you can find cool designs all over the internet. British artist Shaun Hughes carved the intricate image of a stormtrooper into a vintage 1936 nickel. It looks pretty amazing and we get a glimpse at what Imperial currency might look like in the real world. Don’t spend it all in one Cantina.
For more amazing hobo nickels, be sure to check out Shaun’s DeviantArt gallery.
[via Neatorama]