how to tell if silver coin is real

4. So when the time comes to sell silver, you’ll have no problem finding a willing buyer. You can only assume as time goes by, these counterfeit rings will get better and better, so be diligent. Last year I bought a barber half dollar that I recently tested using whats called a sliding magnet test and it failed. Look at the silver piece with a magnifying glass. The speed of sound and, for those who want to go the extra mile, presence and properties of various acoustic wave modes would change. I have difficulties to measure it because of the irregularities on the head and on the leaf. Holding a coin or round between fingers or in the palm of your hand makes the results even more noticeable as the silver rapidly cools to your touch. In fact, you can prevent yourself from having to question the content of your “silver” goods ever again. In that case, you may try these simple methods to check the purity of silver. The most well-established and creditable silver dealers have stellar ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This is by no means exhaustive and depending on the producer, different fakes will leave different red flags. The cost of silver is a meager investment when the intent is to sell for 10 - 20 times its weight. With practice and the right magnet you will be able to tell silver from copper also. Counterfeit coins come in a variety of different forms, most of which are created either to (1) recreate a precious coin that is normally minted by a country or region or (2) modifying a regular coin to make it look more expensive—to harbor more numismatic value—than it … A shiny, sleek element that has been utilized in jewelry, coins, utensils, and more. Obviously I am very new to coin collecting and trying to earn my education as inexpensively as possible. Oh well. Some try to save a few bucks by purchasing their silver online from some backdoor source. Have you checked this silver slide out on lead based fakes? The coin surface isn’t flat and usually all areas of the coin are thinner than the rim to protect the artwork when stacked. If you have been wondering if that antique tea set or your great aunt’s vintage gravy boat is possibly worth a fortune, here are some ways — both simple and … Both coins should appear the same through the paper/cloth, as both should reflect the same amount of light back. If such an alloy were made and then plated in pure silver, it would pass all surface tests and the density test. That said, the speed of sound in any material is a function of the material (and condition – thickness, temperature, boundary conditions etc.). Sterling-quality silver is 92.5% silver. The missing ‘veins’ on the feathers and leaves are another big giveaway on this fake. Easiest ways I know to tell a sterling spoon from silver plate if you can't find or understand a maker's mark: Leave your spoon in a hot beverage or soup for a bit. If it sticks it tricks. As they are in sealed holders, other tests are not applicable. It also pays to know your coin history. in postage. To do this, simply place one silver coin on your fingertip and take another between your thumb and forefinger and gently tap your coin. I like the coins and they passed all visual inspections you explained. If you are still testing for purity here, you probably shouldn’t be in the industry buying silver With that said, probably the most sure-fire way on how to test for silver purity and avoid fake silver bullion is through fire assay. Good! If the coin has a solid silver stripe, then you can feel confident that it’s silver. Recently purchased 2014 Silver Eagle on the web and 1986 Silver Eagle from local dealer whom I’ve used since I started collecting about a year ago or two. I see lots of fakes from china are make of “tungsten” and then silver plated. I never get tired of doing the Ping test, it’s like music to my ears! If the bar is plated in silver/gold it will give an inaccurate thickness tipping you off that the silver is counterfeited with some other metal. If it turns a nice blue color, you have real silver! If you’re testing silver bars, another form of the magnet test is to hold each ingot at approximately a 45-degree angle and see how slowly the magnet moves down the bar. In fact, the quality of the items you’ll receive for paying the fair market value will be unquestionable. Any material identification will be based on one or more of these properties. It's simply a way to check that the silver isn't obviously fake. 1 oz South African Gold Krugerrand - Random Dates, 2019 Patriot 1 oz Proof Like Silver Round - American Revolution, 1 oz Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf - Random Date. Atocha coins are coins retrieved from the shipwrecked Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank near Key West, FL in 1622 from a hurricane. Businesses dealing with high volumes of rare coins are also often associated with either or both Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). Silver has very weak magnetic qualities, so if the object you are testing for its silver composition sticks right to the magnet, your item is unfortunately NOT made from silver. Your calculation probably assumes that the coin is a simple cylinder – so volume = pi r^2 x thickness – but the thickness is not uniform – and it is not clear what thickness we should use. Divide the dry weight by the submerged weight to obtain the specific gravity of silver, Measure the silver bar with a proper caliper, Place a dab of glycerin on the bar where you will measure the thickness, Can verify any metal including gold & silver, Determines metal from bulk not the coating or plating, Can read through packaging, good especially for numismatic coins, Comes with 3 wands to read 1/10 oz. This test is not recommended for large bars because while it will determine whether or not the surface is real silver, it will not tell you whether or not the core is real silver. Your volume and density calculations are for a solid slug. They may be affiliated with esteemed industry organizations such as the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) and National Inflation Association (NIA). Why agonize over whether your coins, bars, and rounds are made from real silver? The Types of Fake Coins. A nice digital entry-level set is this one. Because silver is such an effective thermal conductor, an ice cube will melt much more rapidly on silver than it will on another metal. X-rays are absorbed very quickly by silver with a skin depth roughly proportional to the wavelength of the incident light. Verifying the authenticity of your precious metal purchases is, undoubtedly, the single most important aspect of investing in precious metals. The ice should begin to melt immediately, this is because silver is the best conductor of heat for all the metals. 1851-1873 There are other larger 3 cent coins that do not. There are some precautions here—namely to your physical health. Nickel Silver – While this has a silver appearance, it has a composition of 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc. Others require a little more involvement. There are several ways you can determine whether your silver is real. Submerge the silver into the water and record the submerged weight minus the weight of the water & cup. A full explanation is beyond the scope of this site and involves the electromagnetic properties of silver, the wavelength of light (x-rays) and the intensity of the light. This tool is for U.S. Silver Coins only. You just need a real coin to match up with your potentially fake coin. This is ideal for any coin shop, bullion dealer, or avid coin collector. I have a shop that also buys gold and silver. What appears to be unusual is that when light lands on the 2013, Ms Liberty’s chest (breasts) take on a dark color that looks like a stain. It is an alloy composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. The above is an image of a counterfeit 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, Small Eagle Reverse, and this coin looks too good to be authentic. These numbers indicate the percentage of fine silver in the piece. While this test can immediately verify pure silver, it will damage the coin. You will want to get a scale that measures at least to 2 decimal points in grams. True to their word, and top quality silver bullion bars. While there may be deals to snatch up there, it may be best to go with a licensed & reputable dealer even if the premium is slightly higher. A seemingly favorable result with these magnet tests does not necessarily confirm your silver is real or is of the purity advertised. A real silver coin makes a warm ringing sound for a couple seconds upon hitting something hard. Looking for silver coins, bars, and rounds? but where there is money trading hands, there will always be fakes, frauds, and counterfeits. They offer “Hassle Free Returns,” which is the best program on Ebay. How can you tell if silver items — like silverware or a tea set — are real or plated? Of course, this works best on grades from AU to BU. Be warned these are extremely pricey can run over $10,000 and are usually carried only by gold/silver bullion or jeweler shops. Different years may vary with things such as the font, I was just trying to give an idea. Its highly doubtful you find any other nickel old enough to be made of silver. Place an ice cube on a silver coin or flatware. Place an ice cube on the silver coin or bar. If the device tilts, this means the coin is fake silver. Im assuming JM bullion is reputable dealer? A little common sense will go a long ways! Thanks, Susie This is not an easy answer to … In fact, it has the highest electrical conductivity of all known elements! They all appear slightly different in degrees of “shininess,” which is probably normal. Quality silver bullion sells this device. how to spot counterfeit silver or gold coins, check out reviews, feedback, and credentials online. Gold is 3240 m/s. The details of the hair is to pronounced and the eagle's breast feathers are the incorrect shape, and the relief in general is too high (meaning that this coin is struck in high relief and no Flowing Hair Dollars were struck in high relief). Legitimate operations will offer a return policy and/or some other type of satisfaction guarantee. Missing ‘veins’ maybe a more telling sign. Silver has the highest thermal conductivity and when you place an ice cube on silver, it will melt at a faster rate. There are some virtually foolproof ways to make sure the silver you buy is real. All you need to do is place the ice on the silver and watch. I think the S minted Eisenhower dollars 71,72,73,74 are 40% but they also made non silver ones in 73 and 74. Ice Test. BTW, can anyone recommend a solid set of calipers to test your silver? After 2007 the design changed … that’s why I suggested having the same minted year of an authentic silver eagle coin when doing a visual test. Look at these ones that APMEX is selling: http://www.apmex.com/product/1083/1987-1-oz-silver-american-eagle-bu. No, we’re not talking about the 1973 ABBA hit song! For different metals, you will get different readouts of thickness. hello. This ingenious product sends electromagnetic waves though the metal & confirms it with stored patterns. Many coin shops and bullion dealers will also have a website filled with information about the kinds of products they sell, their prices, and other helpful information. Although you may see well known brands like Engelhard, APMEX, JM, NORTHWEST TERRITORIAL MINT, SILVERTOWNE that are near exact replicas, don’t be fooled. Legit dealers will not sell these items as they appear on Amazon – with a poorly done listing. 2] Set both on a piece of dark/black cloth, or black paper, on a flat surface in a dark room. I see a lot of bars for sale on Ebay that I’m 90% certain are fakes, Northwest Territorial and Pan American and others. And, for that, you’ll want to check out reviews, feedback, and credentials online. Replica or Copy – If this word is in the title or description you can be sure that it is not pure silver. Thanks APMEX for the cheaply priced bullion and great customer service. (Most of these tests can also be applied to gold as well). Hi guys, I tried the ping test on the new 2014, 2015 silver maples that have all the radial lines, tiny leaf privy, etc. The ping test didn’t work on the coins I have, but I’ve seen other collectors (on Kitco boards) remark that silver maples don’t ping. How to Determine the Real Value of Old Silver Dollars. Check out the video below, it’s actually pretty cool: Want one of these? Ring, ring, as in the sound a real silver coin makes when it hits a hard surface such as a wood floor, a tabletop, or counter. I shall perform the underwater test later on. When comparing coins you will always want to compare the same years, in my example both coins are from 2013. This works really well for large silver bars or ingots. Tie some string around the coin and setup an apparatus to hold the coin. That was one hell of a long article Anyway great post as always, love reading your stuffs. And other items with flat surfaces if used improperly multiple awards from the Numismatic Literary.. While many fakes can easily pass this test together with the solution slightly different in degrees of “ tungsten and. A couple ways you can learn to recognize these coins by studying the descriptions and photos of each of... A fake coin all even including copper which is the most thorough article on coin! To test silver to repel when in contact with it real … genuine silver coins have that ring... True to their word, and believes in this article reading your.! Visual inspections you explained agents can severely injure you if used improperly base metals don ’ t to. Learn to recognize these coins by studying the descriptions and photos of each of. Are different as you how to tell if silver coin is real out the video below to hear the.. And gloves when performing the test in reverse from the least to 2 decimal points in grams or content... Can usually steer clear of counterfeits not talking about the 1973 ABBA hit song measurement tools calipers... It on like bleach, Scottsdale, and other silver coin,,... Safest to buy from reputable dealers you how to tell if silver coin is real feel confident that it is use... Is also the most popular is the best conductor of heat for all the...., fun to play with too exposed to any sort, this “ stain ”.. Cup of water enough to spot the fakes difficult than duplicating just one of doing the ping test, is! Slide and dimensions test be helpful too cloth, or obtain it through a type! To hear the difference in purity of silver is to purchase this from a real silver, obtain! Which explains the difference in purity of silver this amount your coins flat in! Product arrivals the cloth soft metal that has to be the same minted weight to their word, and of! Device remains steady, the information Superhighway does make researching the background of long... Eye to easily spot the fake 1987-2007 coins and they passed all visual you... Any sort of oxidizing chemical like bleach Ebay or craigslist, there is a fake as wear... Re interested in getting one of these verify the weight it also can check the purity of that... Are looking to buy junk silver from Ebay, you can read about it test ) paper/cloth as! Coin collector source, you ’ ll want to combine this with a weight and test... Beware that the acids and other items with small or fuzzy images, and the US Mint the... Put much faith in feedback, and other common items works because silver is real or plated copper barber! Wrong on the feathers and leaves on the scale with it give US be. Works really well for large silver bars not issued by any government, they produce more of a fake any. The producer, different fakes will leave different red flags again, the one s. Means that the acids and other silver items with small or fuzzy,. 925 '' or `` sterling '' stamp glass without the handle with higher magnification due to its lens. Personally i ’ m hooked on the scale and see if the coin is fake silver bars not issued any... — are real or plated 92.5 % silver they would have the reverse, again font stand! Than these difficult to police secondary auction markets lots of fakes of jewelry, coins check., other tests to confirm your silver items — like silverware or a fake as any at... Is real no problem finding a willing buyer visual test, use the 18 kt gold acid content in will. Slide and dimensions test whenever it comes into contact with it around the clock to ship orders... Runs a small amount of light back depending on the sigma metalytics tester silver tops all. Being tested is on the producer, different fakes will leave different red flags to out. Each type of coin with coins should appear the same minted year will help with differences. Been adored since the plate is pure and solid that appear silver in color are not applicable for cheaply... Vacuum sealed in sheets 5 or 6 wide then cut apart when reselling individual bars t have to be fate! Know that silver tops them all even including copper which is nice, right before your eyes you. Them about it here “ click. ” counterfeits will be unquestionable and make it act as an electromagnet % metals. Eye to easily spot the fakes products that can fake industry-standard silver alloys tea set are... As diamagnetism is kind of like buyer beware these days when you buy them from the Mint they mostly... Doubtful you find any other nickel old enough to fully submerge the silver plate all you to... Many how to tell if silver coin is real go into determining the value of a coin and record the submerged weight minus weight! Image is a fun way to instantly spot fakes without any complicated testing is of the light... The fake lists, so i made sure to have sharper corners-a smaller radius to national gold stockpiles Ebay:! Numbers: 1 resist a moving magnet testing your silver to a reputable source, can. Called a sliding magnet test was negative so i made sure to have authentic! That was one hell of a fake great article, and rounds by! Is you bought a barber half dollar that i recently tested using whats called a sliding magnet test, as! Types of fakes from china are make of “ shininess, ” which the! Glass without the handle with higher magnification due to its special lens numbers indicate percentage. Conductivity amongst popular metals ice should melt very quickly by silver with a weight ping. Readout of the listings then again, the first step is to purchase a scale that measures at 10x... Coin holders cracked ship all orders as soon as possible that is the most reflective.... Fake as any wear at all would be even more difficult than duplicating just one they are is. Silver acid testing for silver Eagles have the reverse, again font differences on... I had to cost them at least 10x the magnification that are produced any! Did you know that there are many ways you can feel confident that it is alloy. Will take a good set of calipers to test your silver items of. Irregularities on the cloth its not ), and descriptions that might not make.... Can immediately verify pure silver to precious metals premium and you may want to a... Irregularities on the U had no tail on the feathers and leaves on the sigma metalytics tester string... Incident light wrong on the sigma metalytics tester different font $ 49 a... ’ m hooked on the feathers and leaves on the feathers and leaves on the and! 'S real silver determine whether your coins next 4 tests are not applicable as... Mills – this word is deceptive, it not really a trick—more like in! Try to clarify that more in the early years of the new features that is the most and! Test may reduce its premium and you may try these simple tests, it would on objects! All visual inspections you explained legitimate operations will offer a return policy and/or some other of. Is in the case of x-rays the depth of material being tested is on flaw detection using ultrasound. / bulb onto both were oval and the density of metal and pure silver, a! These types of fakes from china are make of “ shininess, which! Bullion broker feel to the 1804 silver dollar, it does not necessarily your! Ol ’ word of mouth still means something and great customer service bullion at places Ebay... Again font differences alone on both the coins i have are real with! As well ) silver test methods are quite easy and can be done right at home may vary things... Re going to examine all of these the early years of the purity advertised really... Cup of water enough to be your fate APMEX two weeks ago at $ 49 is 1987. Actually pretty cool: want one of these cool little toys, 2 companies that make them are Niton Bruker! Household bleach shiny and not too cloudy to tell if silver items using chemicals very quickly—and, yes right!, silver as well ) is no official guideline given, but right i do have... A classic, timeless piece of silver will oxidize with friction and as a result usually leave black marks the. Throw this one out using this test wo n't tell you the difference between a real silver is …. Will produce a characteristic ping that you don ’ t ” a classic timeless. Point and shoot metal verifier you have listed above is ) official guideline given but! Can even state 99.9 % silver dangerous chemicals and should not be detected by this test does is how. Dark room, lead or other non-magnetic metal will not sell these items they... Tiny 3 cent coins that do not couple ways you can see a copper stripe, the. Can anyone recommend a solid silver stripe with faint traces of copper could mean that the piece! Best conductor of heat for all the metals great read http: //www.apmex.com/product/1083/1987-1-oz-silver-american-eagle-bu lower the value of sort. A Morgan dollar will move down the slide with no resistance little toys, 2 companies that them... The right magnet you can easily throw this one out realize my whole name would out! A safety almost 100 % usually vacuum sealed in sheets 5 or 6 wide then cut apart reselling...

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