Expert: PAPAJACK - 4/22/2008

Question
QUESTION: Can you point me to a source that lists the thicknesses of all classic US coins?


ANSWER: Hello Michael,          

Not too sure what you mean by “classic US coins” but here is the listing for the size the USA uses.

Denomination  Cent         Nickel      Dime        Quarter    Half Dollar  Presidential $1  Golden Dollar  
Thickness    1.55 mm   1.95 mm   1.35 mm  1.75 mm   2.15 mm          2.00mm          2.00 mm  

The Cent through Half Dollar has not changed for the past 100 years or so. If there any more information you require on this question just ask.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your answer, PapaJack.  
What I was wondering is whether there is a listing of the thicknesses of all U.S. coins from 1792 on.
Regards,
Michael Nolan

Answer
Hello again Michael,          

There is no one place I could find showing the exact dimensions for each coin.
The fact that the coin metal has a thickness prior to being made and then the edge is upset higher than the design elements to protect the coin gives a coin three different thickness dimentions although they are all within 3% or so.
Many of the modern coins were mentioned but the former or obsolete coins had limited information.

It was not too important in the old days (there were no vending machines) and the face sides of the coin in the soft precious metals would wear down and seem thinner.
Coins were made according to the weight of the precious metal content.
For example in 1853 they adjusted silver coins to compensate for the current value of silver.  Although the diameter of the Quarter coin remained the same the weight changed from 6.68 grams to 6.22 grams, this must have affected the thickness but the size difference is not recorded.

If there any more information you require on this question just ask.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack