You have a 1982 D Small Date LMC. Now you have to hope it weighs 3 grams on your new scale. Only 2 copper alloy 82 D Small Date cents have been found AFIK.
Since your scale can't read tenths, I have an idea! If you can't wait till the new scale arrives. Weigh that cent together with another 1983 (or later) Zincoln. If the total weight is 5g, then your chances are nil to none. If it reads 6g (2.5 + 3.1 = 5.6, rounded up to 6), then there's some hope, though statistically slim. Good luck! You never know.
@JeffC , I bought a calibration set (on Amazon maybe) that had (supposedly) differently-weighted units. I had to buy a 100 gram weight separately. I use these to double-check my scale. Steve
I believe coin scales are not supposed to round up, they are designed to be exact. Just my opinion. Good luck
Totally 100% agree. But since he only has a kitchen scale, until he buys a coin scale, I gave him a temporary "MacGyver" fix, in case he can't wait.
Steve, I almost did the same thing! But luckily, someone here at CoinTalk (it may have been beardigger) told me to first check the scale I have. And to hit "Calibrate" on it and it'll tell me the specific calibration weight needed.
I have this one, it works fine for me, I use it to weigh out my koolaid packets and sugar to make it in water bottles instead of by the 2 liter. if it can do that well it can weigh a coin good enough. https://www.amazon.com/Polytree-Dig...=1&keywords=gram+scale&qid=1620324521&sr=8-20
You can buy a set of calibration weights all the way down to 0.1mg if you are weighing pharmaceutical material. A set good enough to measure ultra precious gemstones or elements is usually under $200, but they have to be protected from oxidation or other chemical change, If you want a company will certify the weight for 3 mo-year for a few under dollars. Some materials gets heavier in air, others get lighter. I would like to know what the coin graders have available. Jim
When I worked in a lab, I would use one of their analytical balances that weighed to four places past the decimal...(1/10,000th of a gram)
Yeah, the scale I have calls for 300 g! That's why I weighed a glass bottle filled with salt to 300.0000 g and taped it shut (yes, I weighed the tape) I don't think the NaCl will pick up much weight, but I should recheck it soon.
I have three of these: two weighing to 0.01 g and one weighing to 0.1 g. Ordered 10 of these from China for a coin dealer friend for about $6 each and he was touting them as $30 scales and selling them for $10. They seem to work great.