George Washington Hancock, residing in early twentieth-century Independence, California, faced a dental dilemma with few teeth and local coyotes plentiful. Lacking funds for professional dentures, Hancock ingeniously crafted his own. He used melted toothbrush handles and teeth from coyotes to fashion a unique set of prosthetics. These were worn by Hancock for many years, though their reception by fellow residents is unknown. In 1946, dentist Dr. Douglas Dyer learned of Hancock and his remarkable dentures. Dr. Dyer offered Hancock a professional set in exchange for the coyote teeth prosthetics. After Dr. Dyer's passing, his widow Florence donated these to the Eastern California Museum. The museum, located in Independence, displays a variety of local historical artifacts. Among its exhibits are Paiute and Timbisha basketry, items from the Manzanar concentration camp, and the famous coyote teeth dentures.