1944 Henning Nickel READ DESCRIPTION

Updated August 26, 2026

This auction ended on September 1, 2026. See upcoming auctions from Wilson Creek Auctions LLC.

Lot number	166
Auction	Summer's Inheritance Coins and Jewelry Auction
Date	September 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM CDT
Auction house	Wilson Creek Auctions LLC
Location	Cornell, Wisconsin

A 1944 Henning Nickel is a famous, illegal counterfeit coin created by Francis LeRoy Henning that has ironically become highly prized by numismatists. Unlike real 1944 "War Nickels" which contain 35% silver and feature a large "P", "D", or "S" mint mark above Monticello, Henning's 1944 fakes completely lack a mint mark. This glaring mistake ultimately led to his operation being exposed. Key Characteristics Missing Mint Mark: Authentic 1944 nickels always have a large mint mark above the dome of Monticello. Henning fakes are blank there. The "Looped R" Diagnostic: The letter "R" in the word "LIBERTY" on the obverse side has a small, distinct extra loop or void inside its leg on most specimens. Weight Profile: They often weigh slightly more than a standard nickel, right around 5.5 grams

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