what is a hennings nickel?

answers appreciated in advance.

 

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http://www.numismaticenquirer.com/TNE/Henning Counterfeit Nickel.html

 

The quick and dirty version:

In the early 1950s a guy named Hennings made VERY convincing counterfeit nickels. His downfall was his 1944 nickel that was missing a mintmark and was not the silver composition of War Nickels.

 

We call them Camden Nickels around here. Cooper Creek where he dumped a bunch of his counterfeits runs through Camden, NJ. I never heard them called Hennings Nickels before. I saw a few of them a few years back at a local coin shop I go to, but he wouldn't sell one to me. If anybody has one it would be cool to post a pic.

Bruce

 

Neat story. I have a few wartime nickels. I doubt there is anything "henning" about them, but will keep an eye out.

 

I have one but I don't have photos and I am away from home. I'll try to take photos when I return.

 

Very cool story Bruce! A bit of local infamy for our area LOL. I'l have to ask my grandfather about that one.

 

BRB, gonna go check out cooper creek.

It is only about 20 minutes away... they say the majority of the Nickels were never recovered, IIRC. I'm sure the creek has been thoroughly checked, though.

 

I didn't know you were a neighbor Merc!, I'm about 10 min from that creek.

 

Ah, so that's why the Redbook notes that "1944 nickels without mintmarks are counterfeits"

 

That's right.

 

Across the river and down I95 a bit.

 

We should go get a cheesesteak sometime!

(off topic sorry)

 

From a coin collectors point of view that's a cool idea Merc, but as you probably know it's a seriously bad area to be hanging around in. You might find some Camdens, but maybe other things too that you'd rather not find. I'm glad bluemule started this thread, because I'd forgotten all about these things. I think I'll go down my friends coin shop and see if I can shake one out of his tree...he used to have a couple of them.

Mark: If your grandfather has any local history about them please let us know.

Bruce

 

Will do Bruce, he is 94 and sharp as a tack. He grew up in Camden. I'll see him at some point this week. I'm also going to go thru the few war nickels I have, I think I remember seeing one with no mint mark. I'll keep you posted.

 

It was more a joke, BRandM... I'm not putting myself anywhere in Camden anytime soon. Too much bad stuff going on over there... let alone going into Cooper Creek/River or whatever. I'd probably find more bodies than Nickels... along with a ton of other garbage and whatnot.

 

I'm posting an ad in the CT Classifieds!

 

Iam glad that so many replied to my question. It was fun reading them!! If any of you didn't check out the link ratpack posted you should. it provides some more information on Hennings. He sounds like he was an "interesting" fella.:devil:

 

Can I ask how you acquired one? I (and I'd assume many others here) have been interested in getting one for a while now... seems like the only way anyone is willing to part with one is to pay a hefty premium (I'm speculating, not speaking from experience). But then again, perhaps I haven't been looking very hard.

I always enjoy these threads

 

Like I mentioned earlier cube a coin dealer friend of mine showed me a few of them years ago but wouldn't sell one to me. I'll have to ask him again when I see him next if he wants to sell them.

Bruce