The U.S. nickel (5 cents) has a mass of 5.000 g and the U.S. penny (1
cent) has a mass of 2.500 g (starting in the mid-80s).
The problem with paper "standards" is that paper is hygroscopic
(especially if sized with clay) and thus it varies widely. I've
procrastinated on devising an aluminum foil standard (by brand and
"weight").
Jim
Pat Naughtin wrote:
>
> Dear Jim and All,
>
> Your point about paperclips raises the issue of standards around the house -
> or for that matter around the elementary school.
>
> Mints around the world have copped out of this debate by adopting truly old
> units for coins. For example, the mints of both Australia and the USA seem
> proud of the fact that they use Troy units for their coins. I understand
> that James Watt, of steam engine fame, tried to standardise coins with
> common measures of mass so that ordinary people could check the mass of meat
> they got from the butcher by comparing it with a whole load of standardised
> pennies. Although James Watt was a supporter of metric measures, I don't
> think he was promoting coins with a metric mass.
....
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789
