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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,832 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3077 Posts |
Hi folks, went to my LCS yesterday and bought my first generic bufflo round nice looking coin but when I flip it or rest it on my finger it sounds nothing like my ASEs or my 90% dollars. It does ring but not as high a pitch or as long. Should I worry?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
I think the "ring test" or "ping test" isn't the most reliable of all tests for verifying silver content. I'd be more worried if the diameter, thickness and weight weren't what they're supposed to be.
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Valued Member
United States
261 Posts |
You could try the neo magnet trick. Or drill a small .5 mm hole in the side.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
Tiny bits of copper help it ring like crazy - this is evident in 925, 900, and 800 fine silver. It also depends on the thickness of the coin and its diameter. Also the minting process matters because of the amount of pressure used to punch each coin. Better compactness gives it a more solid tone (in sound) and a better luster as well. Its molecules are more tightly packed than some metal that is annealed. A government mint will have better access to presses that exceed 50 tons and therefore the quality of their coins surpass those of other mints.
There's someone on this forum ... "P____" that runs a private mint, so maybe he would know more. His avatar is a dog.
Edited by Libertad
11/02/2013 10:41 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
Try the ice test... hold an ice-cube to the surface and feel the other side (with the back of your fingers or hands, so as to not get any finger-oils on the coin). Real silver should become cold straight through very quickly, because it has a very high thermal conductivity. This test is not the most finessed but it should be fine for generic bullion (try comparing it to a real .999 silver object).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1903 Posts |
I am having a hard time resisting correcting a comment made earlier....the density of a .999 pure elemental metal ( not an alloy ) be it hardened, annealed, stamped hard or stamped lightly will never change its density ( how tightly packed the atoms are). The only way that the stamping pressure could change the apparent density of something .999 pure would be if it had air bubbles in it, even though the actual density of the metal itself wouldn't change. Sorry to be nitt picky, but the aspect of density is a very important diagnostic tool when determining the actual metal content of precious metal coins. This has been a public service announcement...
Edited by unholyroller
11/04/2013 12:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
Was that referring to me? Because I agree with all of your points, unholyroller. I was merely giving factors which would affect the sound of the ring of silver.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1903 Posts |
Wasn't intended to be personal at all...please understand that...I am just a bit OCD about details like I made point of. Please, no offense intended...hope none was taken.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
None taken. I just wasn't talking about density and I realize I was the only person talking about the physical characteristics of silver. You're absolutely right, though, about the density.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,832 |
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Posted 11/02/2013 5:35 pm
