How tall is a coin?

Comments

• STONE Posts: 15,275 ✭

  October 8, 2008 12:38AM

  I think that the Classic Commems use up a lot of the field, but I'm not a CC collector, so I'm probably not right.

  0
• richardshipp Posts: 5,647 ✭✭✭

  October 8, 2008 12:41AM

  I don't know but this one of mine has a pretty high relief...
  
  

  0
• adamlaneus Posts: 6,969 ✭✭✭

  October 8, 2008 12:58AM

  The US Mint produced a few very large (5 or 6 inch diameter), very high relief medals. My local B+M has one of them and I think it is priced in the mid 4 figures. Not many were made and it was an award for 'life saving' I believe. The one I saw was remarkable, with a pretty reddish patina. I believe I was told that it was struck 30 times to get the high relief. As I recall, the depth of the devices was about one quarter of an inch or so.
  
  

  0
• 19Lyds Posts: 26,492 ✭✭✭✭

  October 8, 2008 1:02AM

  I do not have an answer except that "usually", and there are some "high relief" exceptions, but usually the design elements of the coin do not exceed the height of the rim which enables coins to be stacked. The rim also serves to protect the design elements from premature wear due to lateral "friction".
  
  The alternative question is how low is the "lowest" point on a coin since some coins do have an area which is lower than the fields.
  
  And yes, "hundreths of an inch" could be used however I expect that "thousanths" would be more appropriate.

  I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.
  
  
  
  The name is LEE!

  0
• DNADave Posts: 7,332 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 8, 2008 1:03AM

  1921 peace dollar must surely be highest after the Saint.

  0
• Nysoto Posts: 3,826 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 8, 2008 1:21AM

  I measured the relief on some similar grade draped bust halves using a depth gauge and a tool to hold the gauge exactly vertical. The measurements showed a slightly higher relief for the earlier obverse master die and hub used in the series. I used a plastic sheet to protect the coins, and measured the thickness of the sheet and subtracted that number from the measurement. The relief on early coins often changed with hub modifications.

  Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver

  0
• lathmach Posts: 4,720 ✭

  October 8, 2008 1:23AM

  Measured on the obverse side:
  A cent is .005 in
  A nickel is .009 in
  A dime is .008 in
  A (State) Quarter is .003 in (Yes, this is correct. The Quarter has the lowest relief)
  Any more questions?
  
  Ray

  0
• guitarwes Posts: 9,299 ✭✭✭

  October 8, 2008 1:29AM

  
  
  Looks like you hit on the head lathmach. Thanks.
  
  Strange that the quarter is the lowest.
  
  -wes
  

  @ Elite CNC Routing & Woodworks on Facebook. Check out my work.
  Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.

  0
• Nysoto Posts: 3,826 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 8, 2008 1:35AM

  cent is .005 in
  A nickel is .009 in
  A dime is .008 in
  A (State) Quarter is .003 in
  
  
  The early coins had higher relief, at least on the larger coins. The data is at home, but if I remember right the DBH's were around .015 in, with a slight bit of wear on the coins.

  Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver

  0
• ProofArtworkonCircs Posts: 4,223 ✭

  October 8, 2008 1:12PM

  In 1972-1973 the mint was increasing the relief on coins. By the 1990's they were reducing it drastically as was Canada.

  0
• Frankmason Posts: 51

  October 8, 2008 11:53PM

  This one must be pretty tall!!!!
  
  
  
  

  0
• edix2001 Posts: 3,388 ✭

  October 9, 2008 12:10AM

  

  member, Greater Houston Coin Club - Edwin's Coin Cabinet

  0