I finally acquired the toughest of all the five-known Henning nickel dates with Looped "R" reverses. I now have a complete set of all 5 dates and six obverse dies he used. Thanks to all who helped me find one.
Do Henning nickels look worn because they circulated so much, or because he "minted" them that way to blend in. I don't think I have ever seen an AU or BU Henning nickel.
Congrats on your set, Joe. If it isn't too much trouble, I'd love to see a dedicated thread to all your Hennings pictured, and if it isn't too much trouble, identified in one thread.
I believe they were minted in a circulated condition so they would blend in with genuine circulated nickels.
The link is great. Thank you. Now for my next question of ignorance: why? Why counterfeit appealingly circulated nickels? Just to say you could?
Perhaps an effort to fly under the radar? Or maybe he worked with what he had? (five cent dies, nickel planchets)
Henning was sent to jail for three years for making counterfeit $5 bills prior to making the nickels. He was producing nickels to stay under the radar. He made the dies himself and purchased the blanks. He actually ended up losing money on the project. Here is a good article on the subject: A Collectible Counterfeit? The Story of Henning Nickels (coinweek.com)
