Test Digital Scale Calibration With Coins
To test a digital scale if you don't have a special calibration weight you can use coins: (Make sure to use new, shiny coins. Worn coins will weigh less).
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A U.S. nickel (5-cent coin for non-Americans) weighs exactly 5.00 grams and a U.S. cent (since 1983) weighs exactly 2.50 grams.
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U.S. Cents 1981 and before weigh 3.11 grams. (In 1982 solid bronze U.S. cents were replaced with copper plated zinc U.S. cents. In 1982 both metal types of U.S. cents were made.)
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Here is the U.S. Mint web page on coin specifications. Cent through dollar coin weight in grams:
http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/?action=coin_specifications [1]
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Cent (since 1983) - 2.500 g
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Nickel (since 1866) - 5.000 g
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Dime (since 1965) - 2.268 g
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Quarter (since 1965) - 5.670 g
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Half Dollar (since 1971) - 11.340 g
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Golden Dollar Coin (since 2000) - 8.1 g
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Silver American Eagle Collectors Dollar - 31.103 g (1.00 troy oz)
http://www.usmint.gov/downloads/mint_programs/am_eagles/AMERSILVREAGLE.pdf [2]
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Canadian coins are lighter. A Canadian 5-cent coin weighs 3.95 grams since 2000. A Canadian 1-cent coin weights 2.35 grams since 2000. Before 2000 coin weights changed several times due to changes in metal content.
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If you live in another country, check out your government mint web site or coin collectors web sites for gram weights of your local coins.