Tom asks: How much does a penny weigh? How much does a nickel weigh? How much does a quarter weigh?
The question of how much coins weigh used to be one of the most important coin questions you could ask.
At one time coins were minted in precious metal and the value of the coin depended directly on the weight of precious metal, regardless of the denomination of the coin. If a coin was shaved, filed or damaged in some way, the coin was worth less than its face value.
Today coins are tokens and are minted in base metal. But the importance of weight still exists, if for only as one of the ways of determining the coin’s authenticity.
It is startling to discover that many people think that coins are struck on randomly created flans with no regard for weight or depth. So, on to your questions. Below are the official weights of contemporary U.S. coins:
How much does a penny weigh?
- Cent – 2.5 grams
How much does a nickel weigh?
- Nickel – 5 grams
How much does a dime weigh?
- Dime – 2.27 grams
How much does a quarter weigh?
- Quarter – 5.67 grams
How much does a half dollar weigh?
- Half Dollar – 11.34 grams
How much does a dollar coin weigh?
- Dollar (SBA,SAC,PRES) – 8.1 grams
