U.S. Mint Coin Specifications

If you want to weigh coins to count them yourself, versus using a coin counter, then your best bet is to buy a coin electronic weighing machine — a digital coin scale

The Best Coin Scale To Use

A digital coin weigher is probably the most convenient method for weighing coins, but an analog coin scale could work, too

Whichever type of coin scale you decide to use, be sure it can provide an accurate, unrounded weight down to at least 1/10th of a gram and preferably 1/100th of a gram

Scales that measure only in whole grams will round off the fractions to the nearest whole gram and can therefore provide incomplete readings — and that’s not good when weighing coins, especially those whose metallic variants are distinguished by weight differences of less than 1 gram

However, they generally provide readouts only to the nearest whole gram — so it’s best to avoid using food scales and stamp scales

If you want to weigh coins accurately and like a pro, buy a coin scale!

In this video, I’m showing you the 5 things you need to know before weighing coins PLUS my favorite coin scale:

5 Tips For Using A Scale To Weigh Coins [Coin Collecting]Watch this video on YouTube

How To Count Coins By Weight

So, you want to group all of your coins together and count them by weighing them, right?

Separate all of your coins by denominationNow, within each denomination, separate them by type of metal (pre-1965 90% silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars vs

post-1982 zinc pennies, etc )Next, place all coins of the same denomination and metal type on a coin scaleFinally, divide the number in the weight readout by the standard weight of a single coin of that type (see coin weights listed below)

Voila… The quotient of your calculation should be the number of coins on the scale!

NOTE: It’s important that you realize the accuracy of the quotient (the final number you arrive at with your calculation after division) depends on the scale providing an accurate readout to at least 1/10th of a gram

The US Mint is permitted to strike coins within a certain range or deviation of the standard weight — this difference is known as a tolerance

The weight difference based on tolerance depends on the denomination in question, and we’ll cover this in greater detail below

Also, coins that contain a lot of wear may weigh less than the standard weight for a coin of that type

Therefore, when you weigh coins to count them, you must take these minor differences into account

How Much Coins Weigh By Denomination

If you’re going to weigh coins to count them, then their weight in grams is absolutely important to know

How much does a dollar coin weigh?

US dollar coins were first struck in 1794 and have been made in different sizes and with various metals

Therefore, there is no single standard weight for all silver dollars or other dollar coins made by the United States Mint

Here are the various circulating US dollar coin weights:

*Tolerances for silver dollars are 39 grams more or less and 52 grams more or less for copper-nickel clad and 40% silver Eisenhower dollars

How much does a half dollar weigh?

Like silver dollars, the half dollar has been minted since 1794 and there have been some changes to this denomination over the years

Here’s how much a 50 cent coin weighs:

Half dollars made from 1794 through 1836 (larger size of 325 millimeters) — 1348 grams Half dollars made from 1836 through 1839 (smaller size of 30 millimeters) — 1336 grams Half dollars made from 1839 through 1853, no arrows at the date — 1336 grams Half dollars made from 1853 through 1873, (1853-55 with arrows at the date) — 1244 grams Half dollars made from 1873 through 1964, (1873-74 with arrows at the date) — 125 grams 40% silver half dollars made from 1965 through 1970 and 1976-S — 115 gramsCopper-nickel clad half dollars made since 1971 — 1134 grams

*Tolerances for half dollars are 26 grams more or less

How much does a quarter weigh?

The US Mint has been making quarters since 1796, and there have been changes to the weight of the denomination since the first examples of this workhorse coin were made back in the late 18th century

Here’s a list of US quarter weights:

Quarters made from 1796 through 1838 — 674 grams Quarters made from 1838 through 1853 with Liberty Seated design and no arrows at the date — 668 grams Quarters made from 1853 through 1873 (1853-55 with arrows at the date) — 622 grams Quarters made from 1873 through 1964 (1873-74 with arrows at the date) — 625 grams Copper nickel quarters made since 1965 — 567 grams 40% silver Bicentennial quarters (1976-S) — 575 grams

*Tolerances for quarters are 19 grams more or less

Dimes have been made in the United States since 1796, and these coins have been made in various weights

Here are the weights for circulating US dimes:

*Tolerances for dimes are 09 grams more or less

How much does a nickel weigh?

The “nickel” is really just a shorthand term for the five-cent coin — which has technically been in production since 1794 and was originally a small silver coin known as a half dime (or half disme)

The nickel, as we know it today, is made from a copper-nickel alloy — it debuted in 1866

With the lone exception of wartime five-cent coins that were made from a 35% silver alloy during the period spanning 1942 through 1945 to save nickel for making World War II artillery, US nickels contain a 75% copper, 25% nickel composition

However, even with the metallic changes during World War II, the weight of the coin remained unchanged

Here’s how much US nickels weigh:

*Tolerances for nickels are 19 grams more or less

How much does a penny weigh?

The iconic penny, or one-cent coin as this denomination is officially known in the United States, has been an American staple since 1793

Once nearly the size of a modern-day half dollar, the penny was initially reduced to its current diameter of 19 millimeters in 1856

The metallic composition of the “small” cent has also changed from copper-nickel to bronze, and then onto copper-plated zinc as we see today

Here’s how much a penny weighs:

Pennies from 1856 through 1864 (copper-nickel pennies) — 467 grams Pennies from 1864 through 1982 with the EXCEPTION of 1943 — 311 grams 1943 pennies (made from zinc-plated steel) — 27 grams Copper-coated zinc pennies made since 1982 — 25 grams

*Tolerances for pennies are 13 grams from 1856 through 1971, 12 grams from 1972 through 1982, and 10 grams since 1982

Other Questions About How Much Coins Weigh

How much does a silver coin weigh?

We’ve already listed silver coin weights above in the dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar coin weight sections above

Hopefully that info answers your questions about how much silver coins weigh

Let’s look at the weights of some of the most common types of classic US gold coins:

There aren’t any US coins that weigh precisely 1 gram

The Chinese yen coin weighs 1 gram to a tee!

If you’re looking for coins that weigh 2 grams, check out the reform coinage of Chile

A 1975 1 centavo coin made from aluminum weighs exactly 2 grams!

What coin weighs 200 grams?

You’re not going to find many coins, medals, or much of anything else in the numismatic arena that individually weighs 200 grams — that’s 705 ounces, or nearly half a pound!

But, there is a handy coin you can find in pocket change that, in multiples, easily adds up to 200 grams

That’s the nickel, which — again — weighs 5 grams

It takes 40 nickels to equal 200 grams

You know what else 40 nickels adds up to?

A $2 roll of nickels

And that’s a great segue into this next question about weighing coins in rolls…

How much do rolled coins weigh?

To answer this question, you need to know how many coins come in a standard bank roll:

A roll of pennies is 50 coinsA roll of nickels is 40 coinsA roll of dimes is 50 coinsA roll of quarters is 40 coinsA roll of half dollars is 20 coinsA roll of large-size dollars is 20 coinsA roll of small-size dollars is 25 coins

As you’ve already learned, each denomination of coin has been produced in different metals and weights over the years

So if you want to find out how much rolled coins weigh, then you’ll need to:

Know what period or generation of coin is inside the roll

Resort to using coin weight averages — not an exact number, but close enough

Do banks weigh rolled coins?

Some do, but even banks that weigh rolled coins may do so only as a secondary means of verifying the number of coins in a roll

For example, a roll of 50 pennies that are all copper-coated zinc coins made since late 1982 will weigh some 30 grams less than a roll of 50 bronze pennies struck prior to 1983

Therefore, weighing rolls might provide some rough idea as to the number of coins within — but because of differences in weight caused by tolerances, heavy coin wear, various metallic compositions, and other factors, weighing rolls of coins can be tricky business

Q&A How Much Does the Weight of Coins Vary When First Minted?Watch this video on YouTube

I primarily collect and study US coins produced during the 20th century

I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!

TweetPinShare0 SharesDo you know how much a penny weighs?

What is the diameter of coins?

What is the weight of American coins?

Knowing how much a penny, nickel, or quarter weighs or what their diameters are is not information you need on a daily basisIn fact, it’s only really useful in a few situations: obscure trivia, homework, odd math problems, or some really detailed smuggling informationHowever, our useful tips and tricks may come in handy when learning about precious metals and the value of silver coins and gold coins are worth in the United StatesAnyways, for whatever reason you need to know these facts, here are all the sizes, weights, thicknesses, composition and diameters of all US coins that you may find interesting to know aboutContentsUS Coin Sizes, Weights, & CompositionDenominationValueWeightDiameter (Width)ThicknessCompositionPenny$00125 grams (0088 oz)075 in (1905 mm)152 mmCopper Plated ZincNickel$0055 grams (0176 oz)0835 in (2121 mm)195 mmCupro-NickelDime$0102268 grams (008 oz)0705 in (1791 mm)135 mmCupro-NickelQuarter$025567 grams (02 oz)0955 in (2426 mm)175 mmCupro-NickelHalf Dollar$0501134 grams (040 oz)1205 in

(3061mm)215 mmCupro-NickelDollar Coin$10081 grams (0286 oz)1043 in

This method of counting coins is fast and easy, however, there are some things to consider before doing soWeighing coins can be done with either a balance scale or a digital scale, but each has its own benefits and drawbacksIf you choose to use a balance scale, you will have the advantage of being able to weigh sacks of coins without having to count them individuallyThis makes it ideal for people who collect large amounts of coins such as coin dealers

However, balance scales require precise measurements and could potentially yield inaccurate results if not used accurately

On the other hand, digital scales are more accurate but may not be suitable for weighing heavier items such as large sacks of coins because they usually have lower weight capacities than balance scales doWhat US Coin Weighs the Most?The United States has a long and storied history of minting coins, but which one weighs the most?

While many of our coins are made with the same metals, some stand out above the rest in terms of weightThe US coin that is heaviest is the solid gold American Eagle coinThis gold coin was introduced into circulation in 1986 and is still being produced today by the United States Mint

It was created specifically as an investment vehicle for investors who wanted to accumulate physical gold bullion without paying a premium over the spot priceThe American Eagle comes in four denominations: 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, ½ oz, and 1 oz

Each denomination weighs slightly more than its predecessors, with the 1-ounce American Eagle weighing in at 31103 grams (10909 troy ounces)Which coin has the largest diameter?The US coins we use every day come in a variety of sizes, but which one has the largest diameter?

It might surprise you to learn that the half-dollar coin is the largestThe half-dollar coin, also known as a 50-cent piece, is 3061 mm in diameter and 215 mm thick, making it larger than quarters and dimes by more than 1 mmThis makes it appear noticeably larger when held up to the light or placed next to other coinsThe history of the half-dollar coin dates back to 1794 when it first appeared in circulation as part of the United States Mint’s first official design for its currency systemSince then, this coin has been used extensively for various commercial transactions and remains a popular choice among collectors today due to its large size and rich historical significancePenny Specifications:How much does a penny weigh?A penny weighs 25 grams (0088 oz)However, a penny made before 1982 had a different composition than the modern penny and weighed 31 gramsWhat is the diameter of a penny?Since the diameter of a penny is also its width, the width and diameter of a penny are 075 inches (1905 mm)How thick is a penny?A penny is 152 mm thickWhat are pennies made of?Nowadays, a penny is made of 976% zinc and 24% copperThe composition of a penny has changed over the years

In 1091, when the first Lincoln cent was produced, the penny was made of pure copperBut because of a copper shortage during World War II, in 1943 the penny was made of zinc-coated steel

Then it was made of 95% copper and 5% zinc

After 1982, the modern composition of 976% zinc and 24% copper was usedNickel Specifications:How much does a nickel weigh?The modern nickel weighs 5 grams (0176 oz)The buffalo nickel also weighs 5 grams or 0176 ozWhat is the diameter of a nickel?A nickel is 0835 inches (2121 mm) wideAn older version of the nickel, the shield nickel, is a little thinner at 0807 inches (205 mm) wideHow thick is a nickel?So how big is a nickel?

A nickel is 195 mm thickWhat are nickels made of?Nickels are made of a cupronickel mix of 25% nickel and 75% copperDuring a part of World War II (mid-1942 to 1945), because of the metal shortage, the nickel composition changed for a short period of time to:56% copper35% silver9% manganeseDime Specifications:How much does a dime weigh?A dime weighs 2268 grams (008 oz)What is the diameter of a dime?A dime is 0705 inches (1791 mm) wideHow thick is a dime?A dime is 135 mm thickWhat are dimes made of?Dimes are currently made of a cupronickel mix of 9167% copper and 833% nickelHowever, that wasn’t always the case

Before 1965, the dime was made of 90% silver and 10% copperQuarter Specifications:How much does a quarter weigh?A quarter weighs 567 grams (02 oz)What is the diameter of a quarter?The quarter’s diameter is 0955 inches (2426 mm)How thick is a quarter?The thickness of a quarter is 175 mmWhat are quarters made of?Quarters are made of a cupronickel alloy of 9167% copper and 833% nickel

However, before 1965, the quarter was made out of 90% silver and 10% copper

This is why any pre-1965 quarters are worth more than 25 centsHalf Dollar Specifications:How much does a half dollar weigh?A half dollar weighs 1134 grams (040 oz)What is the diameter of a half dollar?A half dollar is 1205 inches (3061mm) wideHow thick is a half dollar?A half dollar is 215 mm thickWhat are half dollars made of?Over time, the composition of the half dollar has changed

But since 1971, just like the quarter and dime, the composition of the half dollar changed to a cupronickel alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickelDollar Coin Specifications:How much does a dollar coin weigh?A dollar coin weighs 81 grams (0286 oz)What is the diameter of a dollar coin?The diameter of a dollar coin is 1043 inches (2649 mm)How thick is a dollar coin?A dollar coin is 200 mm thickWhat are dollar coins made of?Though the dollar coin is gold-colored, it is not made of gold

The dollar coin is composed of a manganese-brass alloy which is made of 77% copper, 7% manganese, 12% since and 4% nickelPay attention that the Eisenhower dollar coin has different specsHelpful Video Interested in US Coins?

Read related helpful resources:US Coins: Who’s on them?Changing coins to cash fast and hassle-freeEisenhower Dollar CoinWikipedia US Coin pageUS Mint coin pageFor less than 5 minutes of your time, earn yourself a random stock whose value is anywhere between $500 and $200

How much does a dime weigh?

Find out in the table below, which gives specifications for US Mint legal tender coins presently in production for annual sets

Specifications for the American Innovation $1 Coins and Native American $1 Coins are the same

The penny, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar are clad coins

Clad coins have an inner core of metal surrounded by an outer layer of a different metal

The Mint makes clad coins with an inner core of copper

The nickel is the only circulating coin that isn’t clad

Nickel

Quarter Dollar

Half Dollar

Copper Plated Zinc

Weight

Edge

Edge-Lettering