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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,260 |
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
Hi. I've been lurking on these forums for some time now. I have started roll searching but would like to invest in some silver. I have a lot of money liquid and am currently looking at purchasing this 1986 Texas centennial round, but I am trying to see if anyone knows how to tell if something is silver or not.
What I'm looking for is something other than just by looking. I know you can do water displacement to find the cubic displacement and then find out how much it weis to find the density, but that is relativively cumbersome to do this while purchasing coins. Does anyone know a good way to test the silver without damaging the coins or bullion to test for this silver?
Also with this pound of silver, I'm being told it's one Troy pound but when I see it on the Internet, which I can only find it in a couple places, says it's 453.5 grams, which s a regular pound, not Troy. Does anyone know anything about this round or it's worth?
I appreciate the help and I love reading these forums, thanks for all of the information I've learned already.
Also, are there any collectors around Camp Lejeune, NC?
Steven
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3670 Posts |
 Welcome Steve! Forget about the water d, get a magnet an good set of digi scales. Know exact diameter an weight for like an ASE, then make sure the coin you have meets those requirements.... If it sticks hard to mag, NOT silver, but may get slight attraction on like .925 sterling perhaps.... Avoid unknown fishy stuff with no .9999 fine silver stamp, get things that are commonly trusted, like again ASE's or many other examples, good luck.... |
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Valued Member
 United States
74 Posts |
Silver hawk, thank you. I have an old school scale now that I'm using where you move the weights. I'll be getting a digi scale soon. As for knowing the size and weight of the coins and things, what do I do for example with the pound silver Texas centennial? I cannot find anywhere on the Internet the specifications of it's exact diameter or exact weight.
Specifically the seller said it's one Troy pound but the two I found online say 453.5 grams, which is a regular pound. I am going to get this and some other silver and gold from an individual but I cannot find the information to be sure, it's driving me crazy because I want the items and I'm getting a decEnt deal around spot, which is good for the items I will not necessarily want for my coin collection.
Thanks in advance for the help!
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Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
Hawk gave good advice, wish I could help.
If you don't have to jump on this, wait a little and hear what pros here come back with..
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
Thanks for the advice landed. I have a few days until I will be making the purchase so I will be constantly checking this thread to see what the pros can help me out with
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
So buy it as a Troy Pound (373.24g). If it ends up being Avoirdupois (453.5g) even better.
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
Ah good point. I didn't realize a Troy pound was twelve oz
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1502 Posts |
I am siding with Hawk on this one, though I wouldn't even bother with authenticating the bar. I would stick to more well known bars/mints if this purchase is intended to be an investment as oppose to collection. If you are finding it hard to determine this bar's authenticity, you'll have a similarly hard time convincing someone else when you eventually sell. RCM, Engelhard, JM, and others all make sizable bars you can purchase at very decent prices relative to spot. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Well, a coin is a disk, which is nothing more than a very short cylinder. You can calc the volume via the v = pi x r^2 x h formula, where pi = 3.1412, r = the radius or 1/2 of the diameter, and h = the height of the cylinder. Once you know the volume, you weigh it on a pocket sized digital scale that can weigh items to 1,000 grams. The density of silver is 10.5. Also, the magnet test is a good one that works well to detect iron, cobalt, and nickel. All 3 are magnetic and should not be found in any US silver coins other than the War Nickels that were 35% silver. I don't know if private mint medallions use iron or nickel in them. I suppose that is possible but perhaps not likely. Most of the 10% base metal content in US 90% silver coins will be copper and perhaps zinc. Here is a web site that offers some good ideas on how to spot counterfeit silver coins: http://www.silverbarter.com/avoid_c...erfeits.html |
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
Thanks for the advice. I definitely understand and will have to make that call when I meet for the purchasing. Hopefully I can find out who the manufacturer was and authenticate the round though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
Quote:
I didn't realize a Troy pound was twelve oz
Its not....it is 12 ozt!  Hope it works out for you. |
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
100 Posts |
Lets see if this works...
You aren't a Texan so you can't own that, so sell it to me! :)
I'd weigh it to make sure it is 16oz..if so and you buy it at 12oz Troy you'll do well...you'd think whoever is selling it had weighed it themselves.
Earl (in TEXAS) :)
Edited by EarlB
02/21/2012 12:50 am
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,260 |
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Posted 02/20/2012 9:47 pm
