I’ve measured various ASEs (different sources and years) across two scales and the majority of the time I’ve gotten readings of 1.01ozt or 31.2/31.3 grams. I read the exact weight should be 31.101g. Is it normal that ~2/3 of these are slightly overweight? Should I be concerned? This add up quickly. Say 2/3 are overweight. In 2019 the government minted 14,863,500 bullion ASEs. 14863500*2/3 = 9,908,999 coins @1.01ozt 9,908,999 coins / 100 = 99,090 extra ozt If 2/3 of ASEs weigh 1.01ozt, then the government would have used an extra 99,090 ozt of silver in 2019 alone.
This subject has come up before and to get absolute "true" weights, you would probably have to weigh one coin, calibrate your scale, weigh another coin, calibrate your scale, etc. Hardly worth the trouble at all. If you can see that each coin is genuine, they most likely are and the difference in weight you're getting is extremely minimal and not enough to worry about.
I’d like to think so...is this within standard tolerance? I don’t have a sigma, but could visit an LCS I suppose if I had to.
Thanks. Everything else checks out in terms of the “simple tests” - the normal eye test, ping test, magnet...it’s across ASEs I’ve bought from different places too. Not like one haul. I guess I could buy acid and partly ruin one...but there’s nothing that would make me suspect counterfeit other than this weight issue?
A silver eagle weighs 31.103 grams. a troy oz.... 31.1035 grams. same thing really. your scale is taking the bits of the 20 and rounding it up while rounding down to 1.01 on individual coins, in oz mode. Also in oz. is it weighing as an oz. or as a troy oz. because if its a 28.3495 gram oz and not a 31.1035 gram oz,, that's a problem. it's rounding up to an oz and a bit, you should be in grams. not oz.
Thanks. Yes I’m weighing in ozt. I purchased a scale on Amazon last night with a better graduation (.01g/.001ozt) as well. I just read through a thread on a different forum from ten years ago, but filled with a lot of good info. People weighing their own ASEs and reporting similar slightly elevated weights, as well as a few posts mentioning the reason: “When coins are made, they are required to weigh a certain amount, such as the ASEs that are 1 troy ounce (31.1034768g). If they could, they would make them exactly 31.1034768g. But they cannot. They have to accept a certain variance in the weights. Scientists could perhaps produce small numbers of blanks that weigh 31.103g, but if you are making 4,000,000+ blanks a month, you're going to need to accept a higher variance. But, they cannot aim for 31.1g, or else 1/2 of the coins would weigh less, and couldn't be used (unless you're China; I've heard quite a few real Panda coins weigh slightly less than they should). So they have to aim for a somewhat higher number, perhaps 31.3g. If the tolerance is +/- .2g, that would get them in the range 31.1-31.5g.”
Yes it’s fine. I did an thread comparing 1 oz silver rounds from a dozen different countries. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/chinese-vs-australian-bullion-wow.371107/ The Chinese pandas were the only ones underweight repeatedly. 30.9 grams on average instead of 31.1g Every other country had slightly overweight bullion. If it’s between 31.1g and 31.3g it’s fine.
This isn't advertised by Sigma, but they will call a nice copper round .999+ silver. Don't rely on them alone.
I've never gone wrong with a purchase from ProvidentMetals website. I hope your coins check out fine as they look like a nice stack to me!
Weight is not the only factor to consider when determining authenticity as that is probably the easiest thing to replicate.
