US Coin Weight Chart

A worked example: counting a jar of cents

Say a jar of mixed pennies weighs 2.2 kilograms on a kitchen scale, after you subtract the jar. If every cent were a modern zinc cent of 2.5 grams, that would be 2,200 divided by 2.5, or 880 coins. If every cent were an older copper cent of 3.11 grams, it would be 707 coins. A mixed jar falls between the two. To narrow it down, pull out and weigh the cents dated 1981 and earlier separately, then run each pile through the counter with its own setting.

The counter rounds to the nearest whole coin. Worn coins weigh a little less than new ones, so for large piles of old change the real count can be slightly higher than the estimate.

Why modern coins weigh in proportion to face value

Since 1965 the clad dime, quarter and half dollar have been made to weigh in step with their face value. A dime is 2.268 grams, a quarter 5.67 grams and a half dollar 11.34 grams. Ten dimes, four quarters or two halves all weigh 22.68 grams. The same rule held for the older 90% silver coins at 25 grams per dollar. That makes a scale useful for checking a mix of clad dimes, quarters and halves: a dollar of face value in any combination weighs the same.

Cents and nickels follow their own standards. The nickel has been 5 grams since 1866, which makes it a handy reference weight for checking a scale.

Weights of coins not in the main chart

The chart covers the coins most people find in change. For other series: the small-size dollar coins (Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, Presidential and Native American dollars) each weigh 8.1 grams, so 25 of them make a 202.5 gram roll. The copper-nickel clad Eisenhower dollar weighs 22.68 grams. The two-cent piece of 1864 to 1873 weighs 6.22 grams. The nickel three-cent piece weighs 1.94 grams. The twenty-cent piece weighs 5 grams. The copper-nickel Flying Eagle and early Indian Head cents of 1856 to 1864 weigh 4.67 grams.

Ounces, troy ounces and scale accuracy

The ounces column in the chart uses the ordinary avoirdupois ounce of 28.35 grams, the one on kitchen and postal scales. Precious metals use the troy ounce of 31.1035 grams. Mixing them up is the most common unit mistake: a silver quarter weighs 0.22 ordinary ounces but contains 0.18 troy ounces of silver. For sorting single coins, a scale that reads to 0.01 gram is ideal, though 0.1 gram is enough to separate a 3.11 gram copper cent from a 2.5 gram zinc one or a 6.25 gram silver quarter from a 5.67 gram clad one.

Common weighing mistakes

Weighing coins still in their paper wrappers adds a few grams per roll, so tare the wrapper or use the bare coin count. Leaving a container on the scale without zeroing it is another easy error. Dirt and corrosion add weight to found coins, while heavy wear removes it. And a single odd weight is not proof of an error. Check the date, look for plating or damage and compare against a known coin of the same type before you assume something unusual.

Frequently asked questions