Will 2004 5c thickness differences complicate use?

[jhollan2]

I was reading this week's coinworld article "Different 2004 5c thicknesses normal" (sorry I cant link the article, its not online as far as I can find). In sum, it states that there is a notable difference between the P and D minted coin thickness. One such cited difference is that it can take 43 P coins to fill a tube, while only 40 D will fit.

 

The question I pose is this:

If there is no consistency in the thickness and weight of the coins how are they expected to be functional in commerce? Businesses purchase coins from banks in rolls, and individuals such as myself rely on those cute little machines to turn pocket change into cash- the value of these "rolls" is determined by size and weight. Since P and D coins will mix in commerce, is the consumer (and banks)expected to count coins? How will this, if at all, effect the availability and ease of use of the nickel? And overall, what does this say about American reliability in light of the euro when we dont even care if our coins are consistent?

 

Just a thought...

 

Jill

[thebeav]

Hi Jill,

I don't think that this will affect commerce in any way. When coins are counted, in a counting machine for example, they pass into a gear that rotates to make a count of one. This gear will count only 'one' whether a coin is normal thickness or somewhat thinner. I've run more than my share of Barber dimes through a counting machine with no bad counts at all. We know just how 'big' a roll of circulated Barber dimes can be (generally 2/3 to 3/4 the length of a fresh roll of dimes).

The only problem that would occur would be those 'stacking tubes' that I've seen people use to 'count' coins. Of course, these measure coins, not count them. I don't know why people would ever use those things anyway.

Interesting why this discrepancy would have ever occured. I missed that story.

Welcome to the boards !!

Paul

[cladking]

There won't be any significant weight difference between P and D nickels. These are stamped out of sheets of uniform thickness to the same diameter. There is often a difference from year to year or mint to mint in the way the coins are actually struck. There are many determinants of he thickness of a coin and it is usually determined much more by striking and upsetting characteristics than by size or weight which shows little variability even over the long term. It is typical for coins to stack to a different height from year to year though the difference is usually smaller. After a short time in circulation the rims will get knocked down (especially on the thicker coins) and there will be much less difference in thickness. Large numbers of coinns and all commercial coins leaving the mint are normally not counted anymore. These are weighed instead.

[Conder101]

Considering the same thickness differences have been occuring on the state quarters since 1999 and they haven't cause any problems I don't think ther will be any problems with the five cent pieces either.