Home U.S. Coin Forum

Counterfeit 1964 D Nickel

MedalCollectorMedalCollector Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭✭✭
I thought this was really interesting. It weighs much less than a normal nickel, though I have no way to
measure it accurately. It is made out of some type of magnetic metal and has pretty good details for a counterfeit
if that is what this really is. Now, here is the pic, and a pic of a real nickel for comparison.
image
image

Comments

  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,474 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's cool.
    Makes me wonder why the counterfeiter bothered to make it a Denver issue?

    peacockcoins

  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    Not necessarily a counterfeit.

    Could be one of several options, but the most obvious I can think of is that it was struck on a planchet of a different metal composition.
    This could have been a test/trial/pattern strike on a different planchet composition, or this planchet was originally suppose to be used
    to strike a foreign denomination but subsequently ended up in the Jefferson Nickel blank bin!

    Go out and buy a scale to weigh this...it is interesting!
  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What Stone said.

    Why in the world would anyone want to fake a 64-D nickel!!image
  • silverpopsilverpop Posts: 6,709 ✭✭✭✭✭
    i highly doubt that anyone would make a fake 1964d nickel and spend it as there would be no profit in that and as we all know people who make fake coins are after money

    most likely some sort of prototype nickel
  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275


    << <i>What Stone said.

    Why in the world would anyone want to fake a 64-D nickel!!image >>


    While just a nickel, lots of weird coins that wouldn't seem economically viable, have been counterfeited in the past.
    For instance, I have in my possession a 1967 Quarter. It isn't silver, and a quarter in 1967 still only had limited purchasing power!

    If it can be done, someone will probably attempt it!

    That said, I'm not defending my original statement, although it is more likely of the two options (counterfeit (OP), or trial/pattern strike (Me))
  • SamByrdSamByrd Posts: 3,131 ✭✭✭✭
    its almost for sure a coin that was struck on wrong metal intended for a foreign coin.

    You may have a very desirable coin there.

    it needs to be looked at by an expert in errors and then certified.
  • MedalCollectorMedalCollector Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally, I had thought that it was either a counterfeit, or some type of weird post-mint alteration.
    The reason is there is some extra metal below Monticello and in the I of Pluribus. In addition, the edge has
    has deep line/scratch. It just doesnt seem 'right'. Here are the pictures:
    image
    image
    image
    image
  • MedalCollectorMedalCollector Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'd also like to add, and I can't believe I totally omitted it from the original post, but it is much thinner than a normal nickel.
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,904 ✭✭✭✭✭
    im wondering if the supposed counterfiter was practicing or honing thier skills for something else and figured no one would catch onto that. just wondering is all
  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 34,462 ✭✭✭✭✭
    25% nickel is 25% magnetic material
    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • 2ltdjorn2ltdjorn Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭
    Could it be a Henning Nickel? He was known to counterfeit some odd denominations.
    WTB... errors, New Orleans gold, and circulated 20th key date coins!
  • EXOJUNKIEEXOJUNKIE Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A lot of weird things happened to coins in 1964. There are many 1964 off-metals including quite a few "orphan" off-metals, meaning anomalous pieces that don't attribute to any particular foreign country.

    I agree with others that you should get it checked out and not part with it until you're sure what it is. Maybe Fred W. or Mike D. will weigh in soon with their opinions.

    Good luck with it. It is a neat find no matter what it turns out to be!
    I'm addicted to exonumia ... it is numismatic crack!

    ANA LM

    USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
  • mkman123mkman123 Posts: 6,849 ✭✭✭✭
    maybe the chinese are honing their nickel counterfeiting skills! Doesn't raise big red flags
    Successful Buying and Selling transactions with:

    Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
  • WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭
    Well, that certainly is interesting...it has some of the hallmarks of a cast copy but the fields are too smooth. I got a feeling this mounted into something, but why a nickel?

    The truth is out there...
    Chat Board Lingo

    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
  • well..you just have to make 2000 of em to get a hundred bucks..
  • silverpopsilverpop Posts: 6,709 ✭✭✭✭✭
    take it to a expert and have them look it over then
  • OldEastsideOldEastside Posts: 4,602 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The edge makes me think its a magicians or conmans nickel IMO

    Steve
    Promote the Hobby
  • WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭
    image 1964...Cold War spy nickel to smuggle micro-film.
    Chat Board Lingo

    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,527 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I once saw a "squirting nickel" trick coin that had been cut in half, hollowed out, soldered back together, and given a small hole. You filled it with water, held it out towards somebody and squeezed it hard which caused the water to squirt out.
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,475 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I need to get some nitric acid to test this one. It's the most brilliant, lustrous white copper-nickel
    coin in my set. And compares to a few of my other war nickels and proofs. Someday soon........
    image
    image


    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • FrankcoinsFrankcoins Posts: 4,571 ✭✭✭
    Could have been struck on an electrical box knockout. Looks US Mint made.

    image
    Frank Provasek - PCGS Authorized Dealer, Life Member ANA, Member TNA. www.frankcoins.com
  • FrankcoinsFrankcoins Posts: 4,571 ✭✭✭
    I had a 1946-s Nickel that looked like that in my shop about 15 years ago. Everyone told me I was dreaming thinking it might be struck on a
    wartime planchet. Finally found a nickel expert who agreed me and happily took it home for $100.
    Frank Provasek - PCGS Authorized Dealer, Life Member ANA, Member TNA. www.frankcoins.com
  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,475 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm probably dreaming but don't really keep it under lock and key. Was looking through my extras last
    couple days, I've had this coin for a number of years. I just can't get over how lustrous white it is. And it's
    prooflike and resides in an ANACS. Did you ever have your coin nitric acid tested Frank?

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • FrankcoinsFrankcoins Posts: 4,571 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm probably dreaming but don't really keep it under lock and key. Was looking through my extras last
    couple days, I've had this coin for a number of years. I just can't get over how lustrous white it is. And it's
    prooflike and resides in an ANACS. Did you ever have your coin nitric acid tested Frank? >>



    No, but NO acid tests should be done on coins with numismatic value. The buyer was convinced it
    was a wartime alloy by SMELLING it.
    Frank Provasek - PCGS Authorized Dealer, Life Member ANA, Member TNA. www.frankcoins.com
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The edge makes me think its a magicians or conmans nickel IMO >>



    I'm wondering the same.
    Maybe the thin sections glued over something magnet.
    But sort of strange that it's so thin.


    Is the orientation correct?
    I'd look the edges over really close.
    If you're sure there's no seam it might be worth sending it in.
    Ed
  • MedalCollectorMedalCollector Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭✭✭
    THanks for all of the replies, opinions and ideas! I just have one question. What would account for the
    bumps under Monticello and in the I of Pluribus? I understand the potential for an off metal,
    but if this is the case, what are the bumps?
    Ed, the orientation is correct. I will look that the edge closer tomorrow! From what I remember the edge
    just looked like one of those cheap, cast coins, and that was one of the reasons why I had thought it
    counterfeit.
  • errormavenerrormaven Posts: 1,169 ✭✭✭
    Judging from the photo of the edge, I would guess that this is a sandwich that was assembled outside the Mint. The back of one nickel and the front of another nickel were ground off. Then a circular wafer of steel or pure nickel was placed between the obverse and reverse layers and the three were bonded together with solder or glue.

    Right now I'm studying a half dollar that seems to have been created in a similar fashion, although the center of the oreo is not magnetic.
    Mike Diamond is an error coin writer and researcher. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those held by any organization I am a member of.
  • Snowman24Snowman24 Posts: 468 ✭✭✭
    how is the rotation Goldenegg ??
  • EdscoinEdscoin Posts: 2,028 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I'm probably dreaming but don't really keep it under lock and key. Was looking through my extras last
    couple days, I've had this coin for a number of years. I just can't get over how lustrous white it is. And it's
    prooflike and resides in an ANACS. Did you ever have your coin nitric acid tested Frank? >>



    No, but NO acid tests should be done on coins with numismatic value. The buyer was convinced it
    was a wartime alloy by SMELLING it. >>


    The original sniffer!image
    ED
    .....................................................
  • MedalCollectorMedalCollector Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Judging from the photo of the edge, I would guess that this is a sandwich that was assembled outside the Mint. The back of one nickel and the front of another nickel were ground off. Then a circular wafer of steel or pure nickel was placed between the obverse and reverse layers and the three were bonded together with solder or glue. >>



    Yep. I was looking at it last night and that's what it looked to be. I had not noticed it before then. It's layered pretty well and tough to see the difference in the color of the metals. Do you have any idea what they may have been used for?





    << <i>how is the rotation Goldenegg ?? >>



    The rotation is as it should be with a regular nickel.
  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 10,418 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Maybe it was used for some sort of trick where a coin needed to be magnetic.

    What if it was sawed in half hollowed out and a piece of steel was put inside? Maybe a trick could be done with a magnetic wand making a coin disappear.
  • errormavenerrormaven Posts: 1,169 ✭✭✭
    That would be my guess, some kind of magician's coin. If you go to online magic supply stores, you'll see magnetic coins for sale. Most of these seem to involve inserting a plug of steel or a magnetic pellet into the coin through its edge and then sealing up the hole. But there's no reason why other techniques couldn't be employed.
    Mike Diamond is an error coin writer and researcher. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those held by any organization I am a member of.
  • errormavenerrormaven Posts: 1,169 ✭✭✭
    Mike Diamond is an error coin writer and researcher. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those held by any organization I am a member of.
  • MedalCollectorMedalCollector Posts: 1,998 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks a lot for the info Mike! I kind of wanted it to be a counterfeit, but it's still very interesting.
    Leo, good luck with the 1946.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file