If you bought from reputable dealers like JMbullion, Apmex or Provident you should be fine. But what if you come across a deal but your not sure if its real or not? I'd hate to pass on something just because i wasn't sure. So below are 3 ways to test your metal.
Before i start, Google is an awesome thing, If you are not sure about something use it! Every coin, bar, or round has a specific weight and even some have obvious markings that can help you determine authenticity. Use that data to compare what you are buying.
Photo credit Ebay
- Acid testing. You can buy varying kits online through Amazon or Ebay and they are pretty self explanatory. This is not costly depending on how elaborate a kit you choose and the drops last for many tests. This is something i recommend if you plan on buying from craigslist or if you hold a scrap gold and silver party with friends and neighbors.
Photo credit Amazon
- A digital gram or oz scale. Once again not very expensive and this you can use over and over so it will pay for itself. So China is the main culprit of fake silver and gold. They have gotten very good at making fake US coins and bullion. For example a 1 oz bar or round weighs in at 31.1034768 grams to be exact. Most REAL silver is not that accurate but if you encounter something less than 30.5 grams or more than 32, then you want to pay attention and possibly use other means to detect if its real. Some old stuff that is worn down and in circulation might very well be a tad lighter than something that was in a proof like condition, so take that into consideration and use common sense.
Photo credit Amazon
- Strong rare earth magnet. Silver is not magnetic so if you test some jewelry or bars and it sticks, chances are you have a fake. This is why i personally don't buy over 10 oz bars/rounds because bigger, thicker bars are hard to detect with magnets. For very large bars 100-1000 oz you should drill them. Silver DOES react differently than a completely non magnetic surface! This can also help you to detect what type of metal you are dealing with. Hold the bar or coin at a 45 to 60 degree angle and place the magnet at the top of the bar or coin and let it slide down. You will notice that the magnet takes a slower decent down real silver than if it were slid off a book, phone or another non magnetic metal. This is a quick way to check if you are at a coin shop, flea market, yard sale or somewhere that acid may not be appropriate or a scale too cumbersome.
Photo credit Youtube
Honorable mention, The "ping" test.
My favorite as a child. My father would bring home silver quarters, dimes and halves and have me try and tell the difference between the silver one and the base metal ones we have today. This refers to the sound and duration of the vibrating tone a silver coin makes when struck with another coin. Silver does have a distinct tone and with time it can be fun to test your skill and practice, but I would not rely solely on this method. Again, these counterfeiters have gotten good at mixing these alloys to mimic silver.
when it comes to "junk silver" or 90% silver as it is also called, there are a few exceptions and i will break this down in a later post because it can be tricky.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask. If you found this helpful please upvote and resteem Happy hunting!
Silverdragon