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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,636 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
216 Posts |
I've recently purchased two 1976 Bicentennial Proof sets (40% Silver 3 coin set and normal 6 coin set).
To my untrained eye the 3 coins that are the same (dollar, half and quarter) look identical across both sets, same colour, polishing, S mint marks etc.
Is there any easy way to tell the 40% silver bicentennial proofs from non silver ones?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2373 Posts |
Looking at the edges when able is a dead give away. nlp
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
216 Posts |
Quote:
Looking at the edges when able is a dead give away. Unfortunately the 6 coin set is in the Mint 'slab' so you can't see the edges.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
814 Posts |
With the uncirculated/business strike sets, the silver versions are noticeably whiter/brighter than the copper-nickel ones when compared side-by-side. Not sure if this is true for the proofs or not.
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
216 Posts |
Quote:Try the tissue test. Thanks I'd read about that but hadn't thought of it for these..... Does it work for 40% silver? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Yes, the tissue test still works for the silver clad coins. The total composition is 40% silver but the outer clad layers are 80% silver while the core is 20% silver. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
You can try that test but remember your coins are in the original plastic from the Mint. I've never tried it but if it works through the plastic, then OK. However, as long as they are the originals from the Mint, why worry which is which? OR you could cut them all out and weigh them.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
It does work through the plastic.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1531 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
click on the highlighted link  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
The tissue test is when you take a tissue or a paper towel and put it on top of a coin. If the coin appears as a white circle, it is silver. If it is a dark circle, it is clad with no silver. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1300 Posts |
Its uncanny how well it works...and single ply toilet paper too..not sure if high end two ply it will shine thru...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1476 Posts |
Could you tell by the weight? If you could find out the tare value of the case. Wasn't there like 1 g difference in the halve?
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,636 |
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Posted 04/23/2014 5:23 pm
