How Much Deviation are U.S. Silver Dollars Allowed in Manufacturing?
Tolerance for silver dollars is defined as an acceptable variation in a dimension, expressed as a numerical value. This permissible variation dictates the acceptable minting of the Silver American Eagle.
Maintaining tolerance requirements is essential for indicating the requirement of precision and machining difficulty. Ensuring value for the silver coins’ sellers and buyers is also critical. Coins with even a slight variance in weight can affect the value of silver stacks and large collections.
Tolerance requirements include weight or mass, thickness, and diameter restraints. This article will focus on weight since that is the most crucial variable concerning the silver product’s market value.
What is the U.S. Mint Tolerance for Silver Dollars?
31 U.S. Code § 5113 – Tolerances and testing of coins specify the conditions for setting tolerance restraints over the minting of United States coinage. The Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe reasonable manufacturing tolerances.
Based on data for previous issues of silver dollars, it is likely that ±1.5 grains (±.097 grams) is the U.S. Mint tolerance for silver dollars. Since the current tolerance is not published, there is speculation, and some suggest the tolerance for Silver Eagles was as high as ±0.39 grams.
What do American Silver Eagles Weigh?
Based on user-submitted data, most Silver American Eagles weigh between 31.1-31.5 grams.
In 2022, the Mint began listing them weights in troy ounces instead of avoirdupois ounces. The nominal weights were taken from the lower weight limit of their blanks or planchettes. The listed weight of the American Silver Eagle is 31.103 grams.
Do Minor Variances Impact the Value of my Silver?
The precise manufacturing tolerance for the U.S. Mint is not published, but the most important aspect of a Silver Eagle is its silver content.
When the silver spot price reaches highs, the ±0.39-.097 grams do not impact the market value of the coin. When the live silver price reaches lows, the ±0.39-.097 grams does not impact the market value of the coin.
