Counterfeit Nickels

[jeff of pa]

a new member posted this in the PA Section.
Thought you's may want to know.

Found this info on Wikipedia (nickel) , and other articles on the internet. Google Francis LeRoy Henning.

An unofficial variety of the wartime coin dated 1944 was made in 1954 when counterfeit nickels were produced by Francis LeRoy Henning of Erial, New Jersey. He had previously been arrested for counterfeiting $5 bills. The 1944 nickels were quickly spotted since Henning neglected to add the large mintmark. [1] He also made counterfeit nickels dated 1939, 1946, 1947, and possibly 1953 as well as one other unidentified date [2]. It is estimated that more than 100,000 of Henning's nickels reached circulation. These can still be found in pocket change, and there is a thriving collectors' market for them, although owning a counterfeit is technically illegal. Henning dumped another 200,000 nickels in Copper Creek, New Jersey, of which only 14,000 were recovered. Another 200,000 are thought to have been dumped in the Schuylkill River. When caught, Henning was sentenced to 3 years in jail, and was required to pay a $5,000 fine.

Looks like these are worth between $20 to $40 each, although I'm sure that if you found all 386,000 it would drive the value down quite a bit.

Paul

 

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[seger98]

Intersting, thanks for posting it!

 

[oracle]

That would be an interesting addition to the collection.

 

[Reverend B*IKE*]

When are we heading out to the Rivers!

 

[Ju8vP3t]

Interesting story, never heard of anyone counterfeiting nickels....seems like it wouldn't be practical, with the equipment you'd need to make such a quantity (500k) and too, someone with that much ambition, to forget and leave off the mint mark seems odd......but "truth is stranger than fiction" sometimes...I'l have to double check my nickels from now on

 

[Jack_MIghtyheart]

I don't know about you guys, but I would -NOT- want to go diving in the Schuylkill. Ever.

 

[treasurefiend]

yea, I heard about this a few years ago.

 

[HolyDiver]

Thats crazy! But good to look for.