Probably a stupid grading question

Wisconsin

I was thinking again the other day. I know that is scary. If all coins were the same weight when minted, could you not be able to come up with circulated graded by weight?? I know that would not necessarily help the hobby as grading circulated coins in not as tough as mint state, but it was just a thought I had one day.

dorkkarl

i don't know how you'd account for accumulated weight as dirt gets stuck to the coin though.

K S

LanLord

I don't know if that would really work. First off, the first signs of wear that move the coin from ms to au and xf would remove a miniscule amount of metal and it is in many cases where the wear is that makes the actual difference in a few points in the grade.

Gust my thoughts,

BillJones

No, it could never work. Some coins get downgraded because they are struck poorly, and their designs lacked detail from the get-go. The weight could absolutely on the standard, but the appearance of the piece would preclude a high grade like MS-65 or better. A well known example - most New Orleans Mint Silver Dollars from the 1890s.

Coulport

The tolerance spread allowed for the planchets more than likely exceeds the grade difference between AU and Unc in weight.
Seems Conder had some specification numbers on that.