Henning Nickels

Does anyone ever find any of these roll searching or at shops or shows? I was just curious as to if it would be legal to own one or not. I have just got fairly serious in Jefferson Nickel collecting and thought it would be cool to own one for the historical meaning I think it has. How do other nickel collectors feel and have they ever graded an example at one of the top tier TPGs?

 

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TPGs will not grade a counterfeit coin. I know a few collectors who have owned a Henning Nickel but I have never owned one despite several attempts to acquire one.

 

Do you feel there is a chance to find one roll searching. I have never looked for one because I didn't even know about them until recently, but I am going to keep my eyes open when searching from now on.

 

They come up on eBay pretty regularly and are quite affordable at under $100

 

I really want the '44 without the mint mark.
Did he use the same reverse for all of his nickels?

 

I've seen several at a friend's coin shop in the past but he wouldn't sell them to me. He liked to hold onto them for his own collection. I don't collect Jeffs but would like to own one because of the story surrounding them, and the fact that I live near Camden where they were made. Around here some people call them "Camden Nickels"

Bruce

 

Wow!

All for a counterfeit...........

 

And we have discovered the reason why I was never able to procure one.

 

Considering that some contemporary counterfeits reach into the thousands of dollars, $50-$75 is really not too bad if it's something you really want for your collection

 

Over the past 15 years or so, on the coin boards, 2 or 3 folks have said they found one in circulation. I'll bet most would not spot one if they saw it.

 

........and some people wonder why they are called bidiots.

Chris

 

There are several different years that Henning made counterfeit nickels, but the 44 is the easiest to spot because of the missing mintmark. From my understanding, he used the same reverse for all the different years beacuse there is the same tell -tale marker on all of them. It's on the "R" in Pluribus. I bet there are a lot overlooked because everyone looks just for the easy one, the 44. Just do a quick Google search for the other dates.

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I thought I read that not all Henning nickels had the "hole in the R"...

 

That's correct

 

I remember reading somewhere that the 1944 ones did not have the signature hole in R, because the absence of a mint mark was enough of a signature in itself.

 

Remembering what I have read, there were 6 obverse and 6 reverse dies used.

I have heard of people finding them every now and then, so certainly you can keep an eye out. In addition to the 1944 date, the following dates are known to have Henning nickels: 1939, 1946, 1947, and 1953.

Here are some characteristics to keep an eye out for when looking at these other dates:
1) As others have mentioned the first place to go is to look for the gouge in the R. However, as the 1944 demonstrates, not all Henning nickels have this identifier (although some of the 1944 dated run does have it and some don't from what I have heard.)
2) Henning used overweight planchets, generally around 5.2-5.4 grams. But because he used a wide variety of planchets and because of circulation, this might not be a reliable factor.
3) Henning used circulated nickels when he made his dies so the coins he produced already look circulated and are of a generally poor strike quality. They usually (although not always) will not have full rims. In addition the surface can look porous. Another good indicator is some raised dots on the coin, in particular around the words. Inside the M of UNUM or above TRUST are some of the places I have seen them although these might not be there are examples that are worn down.

Don't take this as gospel, it is just what I have read over time, but hopefully it will help you if you decide to roll search for one.

 

I didn't want one for my collection. I wanted to write an article about them, and wanted an example to photograph and present in that article.

 

Depends on the counterfeit. They will slab Machins Mills Counterfeit British Half pence. NGC slabs lots of contemporary counterfeit Conder tokens. PCGS slabbed an electrotype 1804 dollar. I doubt PCGS or NGC would slab a Henning, but ICG might.

 

Mistakenly or intentionally?

 

Intentionally