P.B. and Dylan
Sr. Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2008
- Messages
- 352
- Reaction score
- 9
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Berks Co. PA
- Detector(s) used
- Bounty Hunter Tracker IV & GC1023
- #1
Thread Owner
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
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
I almost spent it but when I looked at it it was a funny color, almost black with the edge worn to a copper color. After close inspection, I seen it was a war nickel. I always pull them out and save them. When I looked at the date; 1944, I immediatly remembered the post in the forum safely stored it away. I will post a picture later. If it wasen't for the initial post, I wouldn't have had a second thought of it being counterfeit. 
