Back in the 1930's, a particularly American form of folk art emerged. The nation's numerous hobos began altering the popular buffalo nickel, changing the indian head on the front to a portrait, or changing the buffalo to another animal.
There's a nice article about this phenomenon at Cabinet Magazine, but they neglected to include photos. I've rounded up a few photos for us, and I must say the work is most impressive. It must have taken a long time to do these, but the hobo's had nothing but time, I guess.
Of course, there's a hobo nickel society web page, too. 
Hobos on Whidbey Island.
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