War Nickel Question

[rwb83]

I recently got a 1945 nickel in some change...How can I tell if it's a silver nickel? From what I've read some of the 1945's were silver and some were not.

 

[Gshock]

the silver war nickels have the mint mark on the top of the reverse......

 

[FingerGrime]

All '45s are war nickels.

 

[Syrys]

All 1945's are silver, the year that the mint made both regular and silver nickels was in 1942. The easiest way to tell if it is a war nickel is if it has a large mint mark (P, D or S) directly above Monticello.

 

[rwb83]

great thanks everyone!!!

 

[ivan salis]

silver world war 2 era US nickles are 35% silver * (the nickle was removed as a vital war metal) and have large mint mark letters on the rear P (philly) S (san francisco) and D (denver) -range is 1942 thru 1945

due to its silver content --looking at the coinflation * website --- its worth $1.62 at this time (over 32 times its 5 cent "face" value)

 

[AGCoinHunter]

Remember there is a counterfit nickel out there called a Henning nickel which was dated in the war nickel years and doesnt have a MM over the dome. I believe the year was 1944 if I recall.

 

[P.B. and Dylan]

Remember there is a counterfit nickel out there called a Henning nickel which was dated in the war nickel years and doesnt have a MM over the dome. I believe the year was 1944 if I recall.

Yep, here's some info.
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. He also made counterfeit nickels dated 1939, 1946, 1947, and possibly 1953 as well as one other unidentified date. 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.

Their worth more then the real ones. About $20.

 

[festiva_ford]

Remember there is a counterfit nickel out there called a Henning nickel which was dated in the war nickel years and doesnt have a MM over the dome. I believe the year was 1944 if I recall.

Yep, here's some info.
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. He also made counterfeit nickels dated 1939, 1946, 1947, and possibly 1953 as well as one other unidentified date. 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.

Their worth more then the real ones. About $20.

How much was a nickel worth back then? How can you spot a fake one?

 

[ivan salis]

all legal 1944 nickles have a large letter mint mark on the rear --P-S-D--- nomarlly philly mint made coins were unmarked * however beginning with the silver war nickles 1942 thru 1945 they used the P letter mint mark on them -- henning screwed up and put no mint mark letter on the rear * so any 1944 nickle with no mint mark on its rear --- is a fake / counterfiet one.

 

[apush]

mint mark on reverse should do it.

apush

 

[legend76]

How much was a nickel worth back then? How can you spot a fake one?

5 cents

 

[jeff of pa]

 

[ivan salis]

1942 tthru 1945 nickles will have a large letter P , or S, or D on rear which means its a 35% silver "war" nickle -- however if there is no letter on a 1944 coins rear --that means its a counterfiet 1944 nickle made by henning --quite simple

 

[Syrys]

Quick questions... Is the 1944 counterfeit silver? and how do you identify the other Henning nickels from 1939, 1946, 1947, and 1953? Or is it impossible to tell?

 

[ivan salis]

no the 1944 counterfiet is not silver to the best of my knowledge , -- as far as how to sort out the other fakes I do not know -- just the 1944 ones. because its easy to spot

 

[cyberdan]

These can still be found in pocket change, and there is a thriving collectors' market for them, although owning a counterfeit is technically illegal.

As far as I know it is illegal to sell a counterfeit coin. My coin store owner and I were talking about counterfeit coins (I collect them) and he pulled out a small box full he had bought over the years. He handed me a 1909 S VDB lincoln cent in unc condition and gave it to me. He wouldn't accept anything for it. I asked him what he would get if he sold it.

and he said TEN YEARS