How many of you own a scale and weigh your coins?

UncleWiggly

What is the main reason or any reasons for weighing them? I can see for buying junk silver. Do you detect counterfeits this way? Conder101 posted a great reason to on another coin board (no, not across the street) and it got me thinking about buying a scale from the ANA store.


Jerry

mgoodm3

I don't do it. If you collect raw, heavily counterfieted coins they can be useful.

nwcs

I have a very good scale but I never weigh coins in it.

grip

At times I do,I weigh them if I think the coin was struck on the wrong planchet.
Al

dthigpen

I own a scale; have only used it to test Trade Dollars though...

dimples

Aren't scales used to measure specific gravity to detect fakes such as in ancient coins where there are numerous fakes.

ss350camaro

I own a digital scale. Bought it originally to weigh packages for shipping calculations. (a bathroom scale don't cut it )

It is very sensitive and easily switches from ounces to grams.

I have used it to check weight on some coins against Redbook specs. So far no 'light' (or heavy) coins.





edited for spelling

seanq

I bought a cheap digital scale last year and use it ocasionally for several reasons. I collect incomplete planchets so it can be a quick way to estimate the size of a clip. I had a couple of odd-looking cents that I checked as possible off-metals (of course they were normal). I've also used it to sort 1982 cents.


Sean Reynolds

JadeRareCoin

I own 2 scales: one digital and one manual. Sometimes I weigh a coin on both scales to be certain of accuracy and I often calibrate the scales for the same reason.

Purpose of our scales? Colonial coins. For various reasons, collectors of Colonial coins like to document the weight of each coin. Same for early American type coins, but mostly Colonial issues. I also use it as an aid in counterfeit detection. In addition, I have used the scales to help authenticate error coins (i.e. coins missing clad layers, etc.).

Another important tool for the coin collector is a pair of digital calipers to measure the diameter of coins. Most counterfeit gold coins are off slightly in diameter.

mr1931S

"Do you detect counterfeits this way?"

Yes, weighing can help to detect counterfeits. My old-fashioned balance type scale can weigh to plus minus 1/4 grain. I really need a set of metric weights to be with the times.

prooflike

At work I have a scale that will measure to xxx.xxxx grams although we only use it to three decimal places (they tell me what we do isn't rocket science.)

I have yet to weigh a coin on it...

Stork

I now have a scale--no fakes found yet, and now I'm a little more careful of what I buy! I also have this:




for sovereigns and half sovereigns.

dbldie55

I use a scale at my local shop. Only thing I have really used it for is 1982 cents. Pretty quick to tell the difference between copper and zinc on it.

tsacch

I am supposed to weigh coins? Man am I using it for the wrong thing!!!!!!!!!!!

JohnsCoins

I have a scale I use to weigh coins.

John

mrearlygold

Watch it. There must be something in the "patriot" act specifying which kind of scales are acceptable and which are suspect.


Tom

Neptune

I only weigh with an old manual when shipping.

Can anyone recommend a resonable priced digital? I am thinking of getting the one from the USPS - but they have them currently backordered.

thebeav

I weigh myself in the bathroom with the coin or coins in my pocket. Then I take the coin out and re-weigh. Easy-peasy....
Paul

UncleWiggly

<< <i>I weigh myself in the bathroom with the coin or coins in my pocket. Then I take the coin out and re-weigh. Easy-peasy....
Paul >>



Hey, I just tried that with a single 2001 penny and it weighs one pound!!!

Jerry

Conder101

I have an old analytical balance accurate to .0001 gram I do use it to weigh coins sometimes and to do specific gravities. I've used it to check for counterfeits and the help identify some types of darkside coins that exist in differnt alloys or finenesses of silver.

Lakesammman

Don't do it regularly but have weighed patterns on analytical scales for the fun of it.......didn't learn anything.