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Connecting America through Coins
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Coin Specifications

How much does a dime weigh? What are pennies made of? Find out in the table below, which gives specifications for U.S. Mint legal tender coins presently in production for annual sets. Specifications for the American Innovation $1 Coins and Native American $1 Coins are the same.

The penny, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar are clad coins. Clad coins have an inner core of metal surrounded by an outer layer of a different metal. The Mint makes clad coins with an inner core of copper. The nickel is the only circulating coin that isn’t clad.

Some collector versions of our circulating coins are made of silver and others have uncirculated and proof finishes. Visit our Shop to explore what we have to offer. 

The penny was one of the first coins made by the U.S. Mint after its establishment in 1792. Today, it is made from copper-plated zinc and features President Lincoln on the obverse and the Union Shield on the reverse. The one-cent coin is made exclusively for collectible sets. Learn more.

 

Composition 2.5% Copper, 97.5% Zinc
Weight 0.088 oz. 2.50 g
Diameter 0.750 in. 19.05 mm
Thickness 0.06 in. 1.52 mm
Edge Plain

The first five-cent coin made by the U.S. Mint was silver, not nickel. It was called a “half disme” (pronounced “dime”) and was much smaller than today’s cupro-nickel coin. Learn more.

 

Composition 25% Nickel, 75% Copper
Weight 0.176 oz. 5.00 g
Diameter 0.835 in. 21.21 mm
Thickness 0.077 in. 1.95 mm
Edge Plain

"Emerging Liberty" is the theme for the current cupro-nickel 10-cent coin. In 2027, the obverse design will return to showing President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was featured from 1946-2025. Learn more.

 

Composition 8.33% Nickel, 91.67% Copper
Weight 0.08 oz. 2.268 g
Diameter 0.705 in. 17.91 mm
Thickness 0.053 in. 1.35 mm
Edge 118 Reeds

The Semiquincentennial Coin Program is the current theme of the circulating 25-cent coin. The quarter dollar was first produced in 1796 as a silver coin, but today it is cupro-nickel. Learn more.

 

Composition 8.33% Nickel, 91.67% Copper
Weight 0.20 oz. 5.67 g
Diameter 0.955 in. 24.26 mm
Thickness 0.069 in. 1.75 mm
Edge 119 Reeds

"Enduring Liberty" is the design of the current U.S. 50-cent coin. Since 2002, half dollars have been minted primarily for annual coin sets and other numismatic products. However, the Federal Reserve may still order them for circulation. Learn more.

 

Composition 8.33% Nickel, 91.67% Copper
Weight 0.40 oz. 11.34 g
Diameter 1.205 in. 30.61 mm
Thickness 0.085 in. 2.15 mm
Edge 150 Reeds

The Mint launched the Sacagawea Golden Dollar in 2000. It was the first dollar made with an outer layer of manganese brass, giving it a golden color. Today, the Mint makes Native American and American Innovation dollar coins. Learn more.

 

Composition 88.5% Cu, 6% Zn, 3.5% Mn, 2% Ni
Weight 0.286 oz. 8.10 g
Diameter 1.043 in. 26.49 mm
Thickness 0.079 in. 2.00 mm
Edge Lettered

U.S. Mint Coin Classroom

Want to learn more fun facts about coins, explore how the Mint makes coins, or find coin-related activities and experiments? Visit the U.S. Mint Coin Classroom website. 

The video below is one of many in our collection about popular coin topics. Click the play button to find out how we Connect America through Coins.