Join NGC for free to add coins, track your collection and participate in the NGC Registry. Such rarities, differentiated by a tiny mintmark, create an incentive for counterfeiting. The Liberty Head nickel was a five-cent piece struck for circulation between 1883 and 1912. Tyler is an avid numismatist and for over a decade has cultivated a deep interest in pre-modern and ancient coinage from around the world. TheIndian Head (Buffalo) nickel, shown at top right,was introduced in February 1913, replacing theLiberty Headdesign. Continental Coin Corporation is occasionally included in the pedigree of this coin after World Wide Coin Investments. If there is any doubt, consider NGC-certified coins, which are guaranteed to be authentic. ELIASBERG SPECIMEN. This polishing gives the coin an odd, unnatural luster that would not be seen on a genuine US Mint product. Could someone look at my scope pictures to tell definitely? It turned out that I had found a counterfeit Henning nickel. This gave United States Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber the opportunity to modify the design. The V-Nickel may be a great addition to any coin collection and may also be a great starting point for new collectors. 1909 S VDB Penny (Shop eBay) Lincoln Penny Errors (Shop eBay) Walking Liberty Half Dollar (Shop eBay), 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel Value and Specimen. By combining these two pieces, the counterfeiter was able to approximate a higher-priced 1913-S Buffalo nickel. Is this image real or fake? It is known, however, that by his release in 1939, Henning had already begun to plan his next counterfeiting scheme. This was the first coin to break the million Unfortunately, Walton died in a car crash just outside of Wilson, North Carolina on March 9, 1962, while on his way to a coin show to exhibit his nickel. Today, Henning nickels are relatively rare. However, one was recently seen on a submission to NGC. The Liberty Head nickel is also known as the V nickel The V-Nickel, sometimes referred to as the Liberty Head Nickel, gets its V-Nickel name from the coins reverse design. After Green died in 1936, the coins were appraised in 1937 by F.C.C. Breaking up the set for the first time, they sold the coins to others. How could I be sure that my piece was actually a Henning nickel? Another theory, however, is provided to us by Lee F. Hewitt, founder and publisher of Numismatic Scrapbook, who said it would have been perfectly legal in early January 1913 to produce a 1913 Liberty nickel at the Mint. Unauthorized by theUnited States Mint, it is one of the best-known rarities in Americannumismatics. Francis Leroy Henning was born in Erial, New Jersey on September 18, 1891. Its like a scene from the Twilight Zone. Collecting fake and counterfeit coins is a big business for many collectors. _stq.push([ 'clickTrackerInit', '121927254', '1171' ]); Learn how your comment data is processed. This was supposedly intended to aid the authorities if the coins were ever to be pulled from circulation. The first design was a shield on the Unsure if I had found an error, I consulted the internet. However, Variety 2 issues from Denver and in particular San Francisco are considered key dates. The year 1920 saw Brown attend the American Numismatic Associations (ANA) annual convention in Detroit, where he displayed all five coins. Eventually, McDermott put the coin in a protective holder as it had lost some of its original mint luster over the years. 1917-S Buffalo Nickel. A genuine 1916-S 5-cent coin will have the same style Mint mark as a 1909-S Lincoln, V.D.B. It looks like you're new here. This counterfeit has a Mint See photos and more auction details on AuctionZip.com Now. Web1912-S Liberty V Nickel: How To Authenticate And Identify. The crack runs through the word Pluribus right about where the i sits. A. The 1913 Liberty This seam exists because the forger has artfully combined an obverse and a reverse from two coins! Both sides of this coin offer clues that it isn't genuine. In June of 2004, the coin sold for US$3 million in a private treaty sale. Taking a genuine Liberty Nickel, usually dated 1903, 1910 or 1912. Then Eric P. Newman of St. Louis bought all five of the famous nickels in partnership with Johnson. 2023 Central Jersey Rare Coins Blog - All rights reserved. The chances of finding a new one is infinitesimally small. I have what I believe is a 1944 no mint mark Henning nickel. After becoming friendly with the tellers, I began buying boxes of coins, pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to search. Green, who once owned the original 100-piece sheet of the 1918 24-cent air mail stamps with the inverted Curtiss JN-4 biplane (among other things). In 2003, her heirs wanted to validate Givens claim and had it reappraised. SMS nickels VS high grade MS, can you tell the difference?? MEMBERSHIP: 800-514-2646, American Numismatic AssociationCopyright 2023. Eliasberg specimen. The1913 Liberty Head nickel,shown at top left, is an Americanfive-cent piece that was produced covertly in extremely limited quantities. The authors write: Twenty years ago, if you asked any collector or dealer to name the three most valuable American coins, the response would most likely have been the following: 1804 Silver Dollar, 1894-S Dime, and 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. Ron Guth. This famed collector kept the coin until it was sold at auction after his death. They couldnt believe Givens had kept it in a closet for 40 years, thinking the whole time it was a fake. According to a post in the Aint worth a plum nickel thread on the Metal Detecting Forum, during their salvage operation, the United States Secret Service partnered with the Philadelphia Police Harbor Patrol and used mine detection equipment from the nearby Fort Dix. A 1912-S V-Nickel in good condition may potentially fetch at least $100. If the coins are eroded or even hard to make out, then your coin is probably in good condition. While I did find a decent quantity of junk silver coins, the most interesting pieces I pulled were a 75% delaminated state quarter and a blank pre-82 95% copper planchet. Been doing some research and could be a fake but just want to double check THANKS The first would be an altered date, as noted above. Who was Henning? Amazing the details people go to , to deceive people. One easy way to begin this process is by looking at the stars around the coins outer edge. The 1913 Liberty Nickel is one of the classic American Numismatic rarities. CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors, Perth Mint Coin Profiles Australian Kangaroo 2021 2oz Gold Proof High Relief Coin, US Mint Opens Sales for New York American Innovation $1 Coin Products August 31, First 2023 Collector Coins From Italian Mint Honor Art of Vantivelli, Heritage Offering Special Collection of World Coins, Part II, Perth Mint Issues 2023 Australian Koala Silver Bullion Coins, US Mint Releases U.S. Army 2.5 Ounce Silver Medal March 6, Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in March, Jeff Garrett: The Box of Twenty Approach to Coin Collecting, Roger Burdette: First 1878-S Morgan Silver Dollars Struck, 2023 Congratulations Set With Silver Eagle Proof on Sale March 2, The Coins of Carthage During Hannibals War With Rome. Others, however, interpret the sixth hole in the case as meaningless. Additionally, there are a series of raised dots on both sides of many specimens. Collectors.com | Here is what I found. If you think you have the ability to know which one is real and which is morphed or fake, then play this quiz and find out. Is this image real or fake? The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is one of the most valuable coins in the world. Were it not for that date, even an advanced collector would hardly give it a second thought. Accessed August 1, 2016. This offer was not bona fide, being merely a come-on to promote sales of his Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia, which went through over 30 editions despite being of no numismatic value. https://www.apmex.com/which-nickels-are-silver, https://medium.com/collectibles-history-knowledge/the-strange-story-of-the-henning-counterfeit-nickels-d19fecdb2d99, http://www.winsociety.org/newsletter/vol-11/henning-nickel.html, http://www.error-ref.com/henning-counterfeit-nickel/, https://nashuacoins.com/american-coins-spotlight-henning-nickel/, Zack, Winston. All rights reserved. A coin known as the the 1913 Liberty Head nickel sold for $3.1 million at an auction Thursday, according to UPI. Appraisers gave it to his sister, Melva Givens, but told her it was fake. Another 1913 Liberty Head coin sold for $5 million in 2007, while the Flowing Hair dollar minted in 1794 sold for $7.85 million in 2005. An unnamed collector in California purchased it for US$5 million in 2007. On the other hand, counterfeits are much less commonly seen in the Liberty Nickel series. Websmallerparties.deepramifications.BrexitbyreducingtheEUsinfluencemeanttheU.K. 1918/7-D Buffalo NickelDoubled This specimen was named for George O. Walton who had purchased it in 1945 for US$3,750. Since all examples of the Liberty Head nickel have been accounted for, any 1913 nickel of this design that you may have is presumably either a replica or a counterfeit. In 1962, a man named George Walton wanted to find out what his 1913 Liberty Head nickel coin was worth. MEMBERSHIP: 800-514-2646 Buses would fall behind schedule as conductors sifted through the coins they received in hopes of finding a coveted 1913 Liberty V Nickel. The S mint mark location is on the reverse of the Liberty Head "V" Nickel under the dot near the rim on the lower-left side of the coin as depicted in the example image above. USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1912-S Liberty Nickel is Worth $273 in Average Condition and can be Worth $1,925 to $2,277 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. I can almost imagine Henning running around Jersey and Pennsylvania to the Benny Hill theme song throwing his coins away all frazzled. It is estimated that Henning made only $5,000 in revenue before he began dumping his stock to dispose of evidence as the authorities hunted him. Yesterday, a dealer at the show confirmed the rarity of the coin and estimated its minimum value at $2 million. Some examples of both the 1939 and 1944 dates have a late die state crack stretching from the dome of Monticello to the us in Pluribus on the reverse. Coins (2008). Like other coin types, V-Nickel values can vary significantly based on condition and date. To create this deception, two coins became one. The fields also have much heavier die polishing lines than normal, which are especially noticeable going through the star above Libertys head. ELIASBERG SPECIMEN. A man named Samuel Brown Pedigree of Five Known 1913 Liberty Nickels (http://www.pcgs.com/News/Pedigree-Of-Five-Known-1913-Liberty-Nickels). The crack goes all the way through the nickel. NGC graders are accustomed to seeing altered mint marks and counterfeits in the Buffalo Nickel series. The Liberty Head nickel is also known as the V nickel because of the Roman number V on its reverse side. Production for circulation of the new Buffalo nickel did not take place until February 15, due to problems associated with striking the new coin. Pat. An 1889 V-Nickel in good condition may fetch $10 while an 1885 V-Nickel in uncirculated condition may fetch over $1500. 4,427 views Premiered Feb 6, 2020 182 Dislike Share Save HalfDolla' MakeYouHolla' 111K subscribers We find a rare 1913 Although counterfeit Liberty Nickels are not often seen by NGC graders, numismatists must constantly be vigilitant when examining any coin. While he was alive, he was known for carrying the coin with him and boasting about it to bar patrons. He determined the order of mintage by studying the bottom of the wreath, which includes two ears of corn and a ribbon bow. A Liberty Head nickel from 1883 Brandon Grossardt. But in the December 1919 issue of The Numismatist, he offered $500 in cash for a 1913 Liberty nickel In proof condition, if possible. While this defect is very distinct[ive], it does not appear on all of Hennings reverse dies. Focusing mainly on nickels, Henning produced dies for coins dated 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, and 1953. A. Real B. The American public liked the design and saved many coins from this inaugural year. As a Numismatist it hurts to hear about these things. Johnson. The second would be a cast counterfeit. Learn more>. _stq.push([ 'view', {v:'ext',j:'1:11.4',blog:'121927254',post:'1171',tz:'-5',srv:'www.centraljerseyrarecoins.com'} ]); These five-cent pieces were minted for circulation by the The second 1941 Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value, Mint Types, Buyers Rating, 1902 Indian Head Penny Value & Best Varieties, 1981 Quarter Value, Error List, & Investment Outlook, 1957 D Wheat Penny Buyers Guide, Value, Errors, 10 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Worth In 2023, 1944 Steel Penny Value, Best Grades, Mint Types, 2021 Morgan Silver Dollar Value, Release Date, Mint Mark, 1951 D Wheat Penny Value, Top Varieties, Errors, & Outlook, 1928 Buffalo Nickel Value, Mint Types, Errors, 1920 Wheat Penny Value (No Mint Mark?) A purported 1913-S Variety 2 Buffalo nickel was recently sent to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) for certification. Real B. I don't think I have ever seen a fake 1913 nickel. J.V. $3 Garage Sale Bowl Makes Family $2 Million Richer. In the photos above, note how the devices (the raised design elements) on the counterfeit have a rough, unnatural surface. The 1913 Liberty nickel was given the top position in the third edition of Jeff Garrett and Ron Guths book 100 Greatest U.S. Oct 19, 2020. Quick Links: ), offering to buy for $50 apiece any 1913 Liberty head nickels offered. Accessed August 1, 2016. To learn more about the Liberty Head nickel and each of the five known specimens, check out thisWikipediaentry. After Waltons death, it was inaccurately identified as having an altered date, and the coin sat in a family closet until July 2003, when the ANA arranged to have the four-known pieces on exhibit at the American Numismatic Association Convention in Baltimore. PSA | George Owen Walton was a quiet and secretive man who worked as an estate appraiser for banks. As a result, many fakes have been made over the years. CoinWeek does not buy or sell coins or numismatic material and No endorsement or affiliation to or from CoinWeek.com is made. Subscribe to the free NGC eNewsletter today! In May of 1996, it was sold for the highest price for a coin up until that point: US$1,485,000. However, the highest prices paid for the 1913 Liberty nickel were not found in auctions. Sign in or register to get started. But the date is different, and a very clever set of circumstances ensured that the coins bearing it became memorable, twentieth-century legends. Since all Henning nickels appear in circulated grades, this means the dies were made via the transfer process. Hewitt tells us that all one had to do was exchange another date of a five-cent piece. According to the Heritage Auction listing (2010 January Orlando, FL, FUN US Coin Auction #1136, Lot #2455), circa 1975 Bowers and Ruddy Galleries bought a half interest in the Olsen specimen, but then changed their mind and sold their interest back to World Wide. and encouraging people to study and collect coins and related items. Surrounding this coin is quite a bit of mystery, fascinating history, and even the potential of a sixth specimen. Please try again later. Have fun too! It's crazy how far crooks will go to make a buck and deceive good people. Due to the advertising of B. Max Mehl, people have been looking for this coin for nearly 80 years., On this, Walter Breen writes in his Encyclopedia: , "During the Great Depression, the Fort Worth, Tex., dealer B. Max Mehl carried on a years-long newspaper advertising campaign (which he later admitted had cost him over a million 1930s dollars! I have an 1804 Silver Dollar. Coin graders not only put your coin through an extensive grading process to determine its overall condition, but will also verify the coins authenticity as well. It is important to note that it is technically illegal to own any counterfeit currency, but it is highly unlikely that the Secret Service will be knocking on your door for owning one of these pieces. All Market Updates are provided as a third party analysis and do not necessarily reflect the explicit views of JM Bullion Inc. and should not be construed as financial advice. But it's the coin's back story that adds to its cachet: It was surreptitiously and illegally cast, discovered in a car wreck that killed its owner, declared a fake, forgotten in a closet for decades then declared the real deal. Eric P. Newman and B.G. Enterprising individuals took advantage of this omission by gold-plating the coins, adding reeding to the edges, and passing the coins off as a new $5 Half Eagle. Take care. 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In good condition may fetch $ 10 while an 1885 V-Nickel in good condition may fetch over $.. A fake on all of Hennings reverse dies all Henning nickels appear in circulated,., one was recently sent to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ( NGC ) for.... To validate Givens claim and had it reappraised //www.error-ref.com/henning-counterfeit-nickel/, https: //www.apmex.com/which-nickels-are-silver, https: //nashuacoins.com/american-coins-spotlight-henning-nickel/,,! Point: US $ 1,485,000 genuine 1916-S 5-cent coin will have the same style Mint mark Henning nickel and.... A series of raised dots on both sides of many specimens sms nickels VS grade... Significantly based on condition and date by studying the bottom of the Roman number on. ) nickel, usually dated 1903, 1910 or 1912 after world Wide coin Investments the valuable... The date is different, and even the potential of a five-cent piece struck circulation! Found an error, I began buying boxes of coins, track your collection and participate the. Boxes of coins, which are especially noticeable going through the word Pluribus right about the. For coins dated 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, and quarters to search a one...
