Posted 10/22/2018 5:11 pm
They look quite OK to me.
One way to test them is to take them to a commercial scrap gold buyer.
They should have a hand held XRF (X-Ray Florescence) instrument.
Look for trace elements in the analysis.
If modern, it is most probably a discreet alloy, such as sterling silver - 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, or perhaps .900 silver 90% - silver, 10%copper. There should be no other elements in the alloy.
The ancients could not refine out a lot of the trace elements, when they attempted to refine silver, so there should be a range of trace elements, which, together, may add up to 5% of the total alloy content. 1% to 3% total would be normal.
Look for the trace element distribution in the XRF analysis.
One way to test them is to take them to a commercial scrap gold buyer.
They should have a hand held XRF (X-Ray Florescence) instrument.
Look for trace elements in the analysis.
If modern, it is most probably a discreet alloy, such as sterling silver - 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, or perhaps .900 silver 90% - silver, 10%copper. There should be no other elements in the alloy.
The ancients could not refine out a lot of the trace elements, when they attempted to refine silver, so there should be a range of trace elements, which, together, may add up to 5% of the total alloy content. 1% to 3% total would be normal.
Look for the trace element distribution in the XRF analysis.
Edited by sel_69l
10/22/2018 5:12 pm
10/22/2018 5:12 pm
