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 Replies: 6 / Views: 7,331 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
Ok, so what exactly is the deal with American Silver Eagles (ASEs) that weigh in over the official weight of 31.103? I have weighed numerous ASEs, and never have I seen one weight in at 31.1. The most common weights in my experience are 31.2 and 31.3.
Now, before you suggest that I have been "ripped off," let me make clear that the scale I have used is a fairly cheap digital one. Also, let it also be clear that I have even weighed uncirculated ASEs that I purchased DIRECTLY FROM THE U.S. MINT that have weighed in at 31.2 or 31.3.
Does anyone have any legitimate insight into such variances? If all of this is normal, why are there so many professional dealers, etc., that assert that ANYTHING over 31.1 is a FAKE! I would imagine that ASEs - just like anything else made by human beings - are not perfect and have at least SOME tolerance for weight variations.
Please clarify this issue once and for all.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
 , SilverMoney! The first question is whether your scale is properly calibrated. Do six new US nickels weight 30 grams, or more? The second part is intentional. If you have a choice between 100 private ounces that weigh 100 ounce total, but may vary individually, or 100 ASE where each one is guaranteed to weigh at least a troy oz, which will you buy? IOW, it's a selling point. An extra 0.1 gram only costs a dime at today's silver price, but it's a good guarantee of quality. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
ASE 's almost always weigh a little over. The mint only guarantees that they weigh at least 1 ozt.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1812 Posts |
I believe the problem here may be your cheap scale... I have a cheap scale, and also a $700.00 digital scale I purchased about 12 years ago when my daughter went into jewelery sales along with our coins, and needed to weigh gemstones by the carat (1 gram = 5 carats)... This scale comes with a coverplate as air movement will effect the reading, and believe your ASE's will weigh 1 troy ounce each on this scale... |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
If all of this is normal, why are there so many professional dealers, etc., that assert that ANYTHING over 31.1 is a FAKE! LOL, any dealer that makes such a ridiculous assertion is most definitely not a "professional". The density of silver is higher than almost all other practical coinage base metals except lead and anyone who calls himself a collector should not be fooled by a lead fake of a silver coin. In virtually all cases, counterfeits are light instead of being overweight. |
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Valued Member
United States
318 Posts |
The silver 1 oz coins I have weighed are .1 gram over.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1027 Posts |
Even 31.3gm is less than 1% overweight (~+0.7%). None of the SAEs I have weighed (including the 9/11 medals) have ever been underweight. In order to guarantee 1Toz, the mint has to make the nominal weight slightly over so underweight coins still come in at 1.00Toz.
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Replies: 6 / Views: 7,331 |
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Posted 03/31/2012 6:57 pm
