Henning Nickels | What They are and Why I Search for Them |
TLDRIn this intriguing video, we delve into the history of Henning nickels, counterfeit coins produced by Francis Leroy Henning. Born in New Jersey in 1891, Henning initially counterfeited $5 bills before switching to nickels to avoid detection. His operation involved coins from 1939, 1944, 1946, and 1953. Henning's downfall came when he deposited a suspiciously large sum of similarly dated nickels into a bank. His nickels are identifiable by the absence of the 'M' mark on 1944 coins and other subtle imperfections. Despite the illegality of owning counterfeit currency, Henning nickels are sought after by collectors for their historical significance.
Takeaways
- 📝 Francis Leroy Henning, born in New Jersey in 1891, became notorious for counterfeiting nickels during the 1930s, following his initial foray into counterfeiting $5 bills.
- 💲 Henning chose to counterfeit nickels post-arrest for $5 bill counterfeiting, aiming to lower detection risks by focusing on a less conspicuous denomination.
- 🔍 Known Henning nickel dates include 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, and 1953, which collectors and enthusiasts often search for during coin roll hunts.
- 🔨 Henning's counterfeiting efforts led him to discard hundreds of thousands of his nickels in New Jersey's Cooper Creek and Pennsylvania's Schuylkill River, following suspicion from his bank deposits.
- 🛡🔫 The government eventually apprehended Henning, sentencing him to three years in prison and fining him $5,000 for his counterfeiting activities.
- 🔮 A key identifier of Henning's 1944 nickels is the absence of a mint mark above the Monticello building, a feature present on genuine nickels of that era due to their silver content.
- 👁 Other distinguishing features of Henning nickels include specific die cracks and weight discrepancies, with Henning nickels typically weighing more than genuine nickels.
- ⚖️ While owning Henning nickels falls into a legal gray area due to their counterfeit nature, collectors widely trade and possess them without reported legal issues.
- 📖 The script provides resources and encourages further learning about Henning nickels, highlighting their historical significance and the intrigue they hold for collectors.
- 📰 The video emphasizes the importance of diligence and knowledge in identifying counterfeit coins, particularly for those involved in coin collecting and roll hunting.
Q & A
Who was Francis Leroy Henning?
-Francis Leroy Henning was a counterfeiter born in New Jersey in 1891, known for producing Henning nickels.
What did Henning initially counterfeit?
-Henning initially counterfeited $5 bills.
Why did Henning switch to counterfeiting nickels after his arrest?
-Henning switched to counterfeiting nickels to make his activities less obvious, as the lower denomination would not attract as much attention.
Which years are the Henning nickels known to have been minted?
-The Henning nickels are known to have been minted in the years 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, and 1953.
How did Henning's counterfeiting eventually lead to his capture?
-Henning was caught after he deposited a large sum of nickels, all of the same date, into a bank, arousing suspicion and leading to an investigation.
What was the consequence of Henning's counterfeiting activities?
-Henning faced a three-year prison term and a $5,000 fine for his counterfeiting activities.
What is the key identifying feature of the 1944 Henning nickel?
-The 1944 Henning nickel lacks the 'M' mint mark above the Monticello building, which was present on genuine nickels of that year.
How can one tell if a nickel is a Henning counterfeit besides the 1944 MM mark?
-Other identifying features may include a divot in the 'R' of 'LIBERTY' and a die crack between the 'U' and 'S' on the reverse side of the coin.
What is the typical weight difference between a genuine nickel and a Henning nickel?
-A genuine nickel weighs about 5 grams, while a Henning nickel typically weighs around 5.4 grams.
Is it legal to own a Henning nickel?
-Technically, it is illegal to own any type of counterfeit currency, which includes Henning nickels. However, many collectors own them and there are no known instances of legal trouble for possession.
What should one do if they find a Henning nickel?
-If someone finds a Henning nickel, they can keep it as a piece of history, but they should be aware of its counterfeit nature and the potential legal implications of owning counterfeit currency.
Outlines
🔍 Introduction to Henning Nickels
The video begins by welcoming viewers to another coin history episode, focusing on Henning nickels. These nickels were counterfeited by Francis Leroy Henning, who started his illegal activities in the 1930s with $5 bills. After being arrested, Henning shifted to counterfeiting lower denominations like nickels to be less conspicuous. The video aims to educate viewers about identifying and understanding Henning nickels, which were produced in 1939, 1944, 1946, and 1953. Henning's story is highlighted, including his nervousness and eventual capture after suspicious bank deposits, leading to a three-year prison term and a $5,000 fine.
🔎 Identifying Henning Nickels
The second paragraph delves into the specifics of identifying Henning nickels. It explains that 1944 nickels should have an 'M' mark due to the silver content during WWII, which Henning's counterfeits lacked. Other identifying features include a divot in the 'R' of 'Liberty' and a die crack between the 'U' and 'S' in 'Trust.' The weight of a Henning nickel is also heavier than a typical nickel. The video acknowledges the illegality of owning counterfeit currency but notes that collectors often possess these coins without legal repercussions. The video concludes with encouragement for viewers to learn more through provided links and to engage by commenting on the video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Henning Nickels
💡Francis Leroy Henning
💡Counterfeiting
💡Coin Roll Hunts
💡1944 Nickel
💡Mint Mark
💡Die Cracks
💡Weight
💡Numismatics
💡Illegal Ownership
💡Collectors
Highlights
Today's video discusses Henning nickels, a topic requested by viewers.
Francis Leroy Henning, born in New Jersey in 1891, is known for producing Henning nickels.
Henning initially counterfeited $5 bills before switching to nickels to avoid detection.
Henning produced dies for nickels with dates 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, and 1953.
Suspicion arose when Henning deposited a large sum of nickels all of the same date.
Henning disposed of hundreds of thousands of counterfeit nickels into Cooper Creek and a river in Pennsylvania.
Henning was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $5,000 for counterfeiting.
Identifying Henning nickels can be done by the absence of the 'M' mark on 1944 nickels.
1944 is the easiest year to identify Henning nickels due to the missing 'M' mark.
Other years' Henning nickels are harder to identify due to less clear blemishes.
Henning nickels can be identified by a divot in the 'R' and a die crack between the 'U' and 'S'.
Henning nickels typically weigh around 5.4 grams, heavier than the standard nickel.
It is technically illegal to own counterfeit currency, including Henning nickels.
Many collectors own Henning nickels despite the legal status.
The video provides links in the description for further information on Henning nickels.
The host of the video also makes coin roll hunting videos and shares details about their coin collection.
The host encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and comment on the video for more content.
Transcripts
Browse More Related Video
Nickels worth money in your change! 1964 D nickels worth money!
TOP 15 MOST VALUABLE PENNIES IN HISTORY! PENNIES WORTH MONEY
Do NOT Spend these Dirty Old Coins!
I HAD TO SEARCH THROUGH 20,000+ COINS TO FINALLY FIND THIS SUPER RARE ONE! | COIN QUEST NICKELS
5 RARE DOLLAR COINS IN CIRCULATION - VALUABLE US DOLLAR COINS WORTH MONEY!!
Your 1937 Penny Worth Millions | Rare Penny Coins Worth a lot of Money - Pennies worth money
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
Thanks for rating: