I am going to see someone selling silver coins. How can I tell if they are actually silver and not just fake. Is testing a coin, to see if it is magnetic or not, a good enough test. Because I know that copper-nickel coins aren't magnetic.
Can you tell me, how they don't look real so I can know. Because the Olympic coin looks the same colour as the rest of the coins. I only have a big picture of the Olympic one. The picture of all 8 is very blury. I haven't bought them yet but they all look to be the same as the one in the catalog.
If you are going to be buying silver coins in any quantity then you need at least the following:
List of specifications for common coin types
AWS type digital scale
10 x jeweler's loupe
magnet
duct tape
ball pein hammer
First test to make sure they are non magnetic. I wear a magnetised wrist bracelet because of a few old cricketing injuries (works like a charm BTW) which will pick up a coin from 2 inches away.
The digital scale is a must have, most forgers can make a non-magnetic coin with the right dimensions but rarely with the right weight.
A loupe is pretty much the most commonly carried accessory, I use one with a double lens, 20x & 40x, with built in LED lights. Younger eyes might not even need one. Look for bubbles in the field of the coin, a sure sign it's a cheap cast instead of pressed and poorly defined design.
If you find some bloke trying to rip you off with fake silver coins then use the duct tape to stop him screaming while you break his thumbs with the ball pein hammer.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
That is good advice pnightingale. If you were to make a guess would the coins in the picture be silver. Also what do you mean bubbles in the field of the coin.
A couple things.
1. Is it possible the lack of detail could come from wear?
2. If the coins aren't real, are they still made of silver.(worth bullion value)
1. Yes, the rest of the lettering is also worn. A real coin will wear on the high points first. When you have the coin in hand it's easier to tell the difference. I would be more concerned about the 2nd coin, with the horseman. Look at the rim, it's off center.
2. There are silver testing kits which use a rare earth to test the content. I've never used one so can't say much more than that. If the specs match up then it's likely to be silver, although the fakes get better all the time.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
There was a recent forum post by Matt Probert about fake silver with some very good pictures. You can see the spots in the field and the crude design.
I think the coins are certaily worth taking a closer look at. You can't be 100% sure any more, even slabbed and certified coins are being faked now. It's unlikely that there is any silver content if they are fakes, the bullion value probably exceeds the numismatic value for worn Mexican coins.
How well do you know the seller? If it's someone with a good reputation then that's a huge plus, if it's some spiv from Craiglist.... not so good.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
It was a guy on a site called Kijiji. The way the ad was listed I didn't think he knew they were silver. I thought they were real just because the coins aren't worth enough to fake them. I have never met the guy before. I was just going to test them with a magnet, magnetic = fake, non-magnetic = real. I can still hope that they are real. The pictures that were given to me absolutely suck. When I go to look at them I will check to see if they are magnetic, check dimensions and check weight. Suppose they are non-magnetic, and have correct dimensions and weights. Would you think they are real then? Sorry for so many questions - I am new to buying silver coins.
Maybe I should've said that before. If you're looking into buying silver, buy fractional coins because they are faked much less often. That means coins with 10c values for example.
Kenny
- Verifying your Asian and British-territorial coins everyday with the best quality photos and the best information.
Even if the coins aren't worth enough to fake. I mean I understand if people fake American, Canadian, British, and Chinese coins. But not current, low value Mexican coins. But suppose the coin is non-magnetic, and has the correct dimensions and weight. Would they be real? Also how accurate does your scale have to be - is 0.1g good enough?
Even if the coins aren't worth enough to fake. I mean I understand if people fake American, Canadian, British, and Chinese coins. But not current, low value Mexican coins. But suppose the coin is non-magnetic, and has the correct dimensions and weight. Would they be real? Also how accurate does your scale have to be - is 0.1g good enough?
Regards
That's a hard call, there are fakes circulating right now that most coin dealers can't identify, but yes you are right... it's not worth the effort creating a high quality copy of a $10 coin. You are taking a risk that the coins may be good quality fakes so take that into account when making your offer.
The accuracy of the scale isn't really that important, a coin loses weight during the course of circulation. It also depends on the quality control at the issuing mint, production tolerances being tighter at the mints of industrialised nations and from dates after the move away from old fashioned screw presses. I would guess that a lightly circulated coin more than 15% off would be a certain fake.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
I will take that into account when purchasing the coins and making sure they are all within 15% although if it is more then 7-8% off I would call it a fake too because for these coins it would be more than 2.5g. Thank you for all your help. I will let you guys know what happens.
Verweis : pnightingaleIf you are going to be buying silver coins in any quantity then you need at least the following:
List of specifications for common coin types
AWS type digital scale
10 x jeweler's loupe
magnet
duct tape
ball pein hammer
First test to make sure they are non magnetic. I wear a magentised wrist bracelet because of a few old cricketing injuries (works like a charm BTW) which will pick up a coin from 2 inches away.
The digital scale is a must have, most forgers can make a non magnetic coin with the right dimensions but rarely with the right weight.
A loupe is pretty much the most commonly carried accessory, I use one with a double lens, 20x & 40x, with built in LED lights. Younger eyes might not even need one. Look for bubbles in the field of the coin, a sure sign it's a cheap cast instead of pressed and poorly defined design.
If you find some bloke trying to rip you off with fake silver coins then use the duct tape to stop him screaming while you break his thumbs with the ball pein hammer.
I liked this...I was wondering where this was going.
I agree with SmartOneKg on the Olympic coin...I have a duplicate of this that you and I can swap elvis123, if interested.
Thank you bam777 for your offer. I am hopefully going to see this guy by the end of the week (when my new scale arrives). We will see what happens from there.
The more I think the coin is fake. I'm not sure if you bought it yet but looking from the top of the lettering on the obverse, it's very worn even though the rims are thick.
Kenny
- Verifying your Asian and British-territorial coins everyday with the best quality photos and the best information.
Here are my two coins. Notice the 25 is lower than the raised eagle, so shouldn't be worn away as is on your coin above unless someone has been stroking the coin for a long time!
The verdict is in. You guys are all correct. They were all fake coins, I didn't even need to measure or weigh them. They were all magnetic. Thank you for every one who helped inform me and your advice is really appreciated. Bam777 if you are still interested in swapping let me know.
