Riddle 6 Solution: One Month Later

by William Jackson on 2007-04-25

So, the riddle does have a solution. I have just been too lazy to type it here. In fact, the solution was provided by my friend Noelene just one hour after I posted the riddle:

you put 3 coins on each side of the scale, leave two off

if they balance, then use your second weighing to compare the two you left off

if one of the sets of three is heavier, then compare two of the three coins with your second weighing

if they balance, then the third one is your counterfeit. if they [do not], then the heaver one is your counterfeit

but really, you should try and spend all eight coins as soon as possible and not worry about which one is fake