1816 Large Cent (Plated?)

Update: After checking the 1816-back.jpg image that I uploaded, it almost appears in the "O" of One Cent there is some wear suggesting a copper color showing through. I just took a real close look at the coin and what came through in the image is a shadow caused from the light of my scanner. In fact, in real life holding this coin in your hand, there is more detail then what came through in those images, especially on the back image. I assume it's glare from the lights of my scanner that in some cases caused a shadow but in other areas, bleaded the image together. The word America on the coin is much crisper then as shown on the posted image.

Fred, I weighted the coin by going to the post office and while mailing a letter, just afterwards I asked the nice postal lady if I could drop this coin on the scale. Those scales weigh to the hundredth of an ounce (that's less then a sheet of paper). Take that number you get and go do a google search on gram calculators, find an online one, enter your weight in ounces and hit convert to grams. Presto, you get your number. The postal meters are remarkably accurate and as mentioned, can easily differentiate the added weight of a simple sheet of paper, measured to the hundredth of an ounce. In fact, I blew on the meter and I watched the weight numbers flicker.

Mike, the forum has a lot of topics on scales for weighing coins. One archived topic is http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/...PIC_ID=10614 .

Postal scales sold to home users are not usually accurate enough for coin collectors. It's unusual that a USPS clerk or Postmaster will weigh a coin, but coin collectors who need to do it several times a day might find it a little inconvenient to drop down to the local PO to weigh coins. I didn't know you were using PO scales which, even to the 1/100th of an ounce are not accurate enough for coin purposes. If you get serious enough about coins, a precision scale is essential. They can be purchased on ebay or other online vendors for minimal amounts ($20 to $50 should be adequate, but one may want to spend more, depending upon type [digital or mechanical, e.g., beam balance], durability, and anticipated amount of use.

In any instance, a scale with an accuracy of 1/100th of a grain or 1/1000th of a gram is critical for coins to detect fakes, measure wear, and determine alterations (e.g., over-weight might indicate lacquer, counterfeiting, or in your instance, plating; underweight might indicate mere wear or forgery). I use an older mechanical and calibratable RCBS 5-10 balance beam powder scale (I'm also a cartridge reloader, am off the power grid, and am fed up with battery devices); powder scales need to be highly accurate due to the inherent danger in cartridge reloading. Such scales can weigh postage stamps or parts thereof.

Fred