2 questions,,, 1793 chain cent and breens encyclopedia

1. What is the thickness of a 1793 chain cent,,, i have looked everywhere and cannot find.
2. i am confused about the weight of 1793-95 half cent stock, most places say it should weigh 6.7 grams ,,, but i found this on the pcgs website in breens encyclopedia "1793 Liberty Cap through 1795 on late 1793-95 half cent stock (made for half cents at 23.8 mm) would weigh 150.11 grains (9.73 grams)," link to whole page http://www.pcgs.com/books/earlycents/Oops-001.aspx,,,

My reason for wanting to know this is ,,,
i have a chain cent that matches everything it should,, vine and bar edge, matches sheldon type 2 obverse type 4 reverse, diameter, but very under weight , breen's mentions thin planchet or Wrong stock, 1 side of the coin is thinner than other. please help thanks

 

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photos !

 

Redbook states half cent 1793 facing left - 22mm and 6.74 grams, for 1794 to 1797 it is 6.74 grams and 23.5mm diamter. It also mentions thin planchets have a weight of 5.44 As for the chain cent - post some photos that will help those that know more than me.

 

The concept of a thickness standard for a struck coin is kinda meaningless since it varies at every point on the coin. Also twp planchets of the same size, weight, and thickness, will have different final thicknesses depending on the strength of the strike any differences in the hardness of the planchets from differences in annealing.

What is confusing you in the section you are reading from the Cent encyclopedia is that they are discussing a large cent struck on planchet stock rolled down to half cent thickness. As the half cents went form the early 1793 to the latter issues the stock was rolled thiner and thinner and the diameter of the half cent was increased to keep the weight at 6.7 grams. But the weight of a large cent (which didn't change diameter) punched from the proceedingly thinner strip would be progressively lighter. HOWEVER, the chain cents were struck before any of the half cents were made so the idea of a chain cent being light because it was struck on a planchet cut from half cent stock is moot. There was no half cent stock at the time.

 

I'm thoroughly confused by your question because you keep mixing Half Cent and Large Cent terminology in your description. Your initial question is about a 1793 Chain Cent thickness.

While I do not have this answer, some Half Cents are known to have been produced from cut down large cent stock so they must be approximately the same. The Half Cent as produced was to be 104 Grains (6.74 grams) at about 22 mm in diameter while the Chain, Wreath and Cap Cents of that year are 208 Grains (13.48 grams) and 26 to 27 mm in diameter.

Now the second thing is that S-2 (type2?) is composed of Obverse 1 and Reverse C (Reverse Bs are all alterations). S-2, S-3 and S-4 all use the same Reverse C so you simply have a S-2.

About it being underweight. These coins were not produced at today's tolerances or standards and there is substantial differences in the weights of these coins as produced. After production, weights are reduced both by wear and by corrosive action, especially in buried coins. But you are right to consider this because there are electrotypes and fakes galore, some quite old themselves. If you would give us your weight information and diameter along with the photos you can get lots of help and ideas concerning your particular coin. An edge shot of the coin would help determine whether it is an electrotype as well. Having the correct edge makes this far less likely though. The edge is harder to fake.

ps Conder's post better explains why it can't be Half Cent stock. I was thinking of a 1796 NC-7 which was cut down and used to produce a Half Cent.
http://www.icollector.com/A-display-of-5-Gallery-Mint-products-reproductions-to_i8599228

 

thanks so much for the help, very appreciated