United States Mint coin sizes

The United States Mint has minted over 20 different kinds of coins, of many different sizes. Often, it is difficult for people to get a grasp of what much of the historical coinage looked like, at least in relation to modern circulating coins. This chart shows all of the coin types, and their sizes, grouped by coins of similar size and by general composition.[1]

Seven distinct types of coin composition have been utilized over the past 200 years: three base coin alloys, two silver alloys, gold, and in recent years, platinum. The base metal coins were generally alloys of copper (for 2 cent coins and lower), and copper/nickel (for 3 and 5 cent coins). Copper/nickel composition is also used for all modern "silver" coins.[2]

US Coin Sizes and Composition
Steel Alloy Copper Copper Alloy Silver Alloy Silver Gold Platinum
Three Cent
14 mm
0.8 g
0.750 fine
1851–1853
14 mm
0.75 g
0.900 fine
1854–1873
Half Dime
15.5 mm
1.24 g
1794–1873
Dollar
15 mm
1.67 gr
1849–1889
$5 Bullion
16.5 mm
3.11 g
1986–present
$10 Bullion
16.5 mm
3.11 g
1997–present
Three Cent
17.9 mm
1.94 g
1865–1889
Dime
17.91 mm
2.268 g
1965–present
Dime
17.9 mm
2.5 g
1796–1964
Quarter Eagle
18 mm
4.2 g
1796–1929
Small Cent
19.05 mm
2.5 g
1943
Small Cent
19.05 mm
2.5 g
1857–present
Three Dollar
20.5 mm
5.01 g
1853–1876
Nickel
21.21 mm
5 g
1866–present
Nickel
21.21 mm
5 g
1942–1945
Twenty Cent
22 mm
5 g
1875–1878
Half Eagle
21.6 mm
8.36 g
1795–1929
$10 Bullion
22 mm
7.78 g
1986–present
$25 Bullion
22 mm
7.78 g
1997–present
Half Cent
23.5 mm
6.74 g
1795–1857
Two Cent
23 mm
6.22 g
1864–1873
Quarter
24.26 mm
5.67 g
1965–present
Quarter
24.3 mm
6.25 g
1796–1965
Dollar
26.5 mm
8.1 g
1979–2016[3]
Eagle
27 mm
17.5 g
1795–1933
$25 Bullion
27 mm
17.5 g
1986–present
$50 Bullion
27 mm
15.6 g
1997–present
Large Cent
29 mm
10.89 g
1793–1857
Half Dollar
30.61 mm
11.34 g
1971–present
Half Dollar
30.6 mm
12.5 g
1965–1971
Half Dollar
30.6 mm
12.5 g
1796–1964
$50 Bullion
32.7 mm
31.1 g
1986–present
$100 Bullion
32.7 mm
31.1 g
1997–present
Double Eagle
34 mm
35 g
1850–1933
Dollar
38.1 mm
22.68 g
1971–1978
Dollar
38.1 mm
26.73 g
1794–1970
$1 Bullion
40.6 mm
31.1 g
1986–present
Representative images of US coin sizes
Steel Alloy Copper Copper Alloy Silver Alloy Silver Gold Platinum
NNC-US-1933-G$20-Saint Gaudens.jpg

Notes on the tables:

The largest coin ever minted by the US Mint was a gold "Half Union" pattern in 1877, weighing 83.45 grams, and 51.1 mm in diameter. The largest coin actually issued by the mint was the Panama-Pacific Exposition $50 gold commemorative, at 83.572 grams and 44 mm. An octagonal version of the coin was slightly larger, measuring 45 mm at its widest point.

  1. "The United States Mint: Frequently Asked Questions". Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  2. "Coin Composition, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta".
  3. Native American $1 Coin
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