On 12 Nov 2004 05:55:20 GMT, TomDeLorey wrote:

Subject: Us Mint Weight Tolerance
From: Jorg Lueke
Date: 11/11/2004 6:45 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Thanks Tom. That is rather sloppy all things considered. You wouldn't
happen to know what the value for a good assay was? How close to 90%
silver did the mint need to get?


Don't know the fineness tolerance that late, but suspect it was pretty
tight. I
remember reading about a batch of Carson City silver dollars that was
condemned
and remelted because they assayed out at only .899 fine.

TomDeLorey
-
Interesting that they took such pains with the alloy but let the weight
drift. I suppose it must have been easier to control the fineness and
this also let them have more wiggly room with the weight. Although for a
quarter .001 difference would have been the same as a .006 gram differnce
which they obviously weren't very concerned about.