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 Replies: 24 / Views: 2,914 |
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Valued Member
United States
240 Posts |
Chemistry teacher knows I collect coins. He just walked up to me and asked me if he could borrow 20 silver coins for an experiment for his lab he is planning..im thinking 40% ers as their big but cheap? Any input as to what denomination is best?
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The denomination that's best is the one which you're OK with losing all potential collector value from, forever. With that said, larger is better, Quarters probably.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
Just putting this out there...
I'm a teacher... I would never ask a student to put up something which they have and value for an experiment...
Too many things can go wrong in this scenario... coins could be lost.. stolen or damaged...
Now if all this teacher needs is silver to do the experiment with.. I would recommend the 90%... (I'm assuming it's some sort of science experiment)... but on the flip side of that... I personally would sell the coins to him.. with the option that you can buy them back after the experiment if you want.. this eliminates any risk on your behalf..
If the teacher can't accept those terms I wouldn't even bother and tell him/her to find the silver themselves..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
Yeah I agree AgCoinAu, I think it's a bit ridiculous to ask a student if they can experiment on their property. Ask him what kind of experiment and let us know. We would all be very disappointed if he ended up using them for something that would destroy their value.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
There's no doubt that whatever use is planned, will destroy the coins as collector items. I can't say I'm all that happy abut the possibility, regardless of what the coin is today. A Morgan dollar was common as grains of sand a century ago, too. |
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Valued Member
 United States
240 Posts |
Edit: I had a chat with him. He will take it from a different approach. I need to supply him with dateless Buffalo nickels, and there will be a lab in which he will create unto how to restore the dates. The kids will have to figure out what to do with the materials provided to achieve their goal. Honestly, It sounds pretty cool. I wish I was still in chemistry. He will probably give them water, maratic acid, hydrogen peroxide and a few other chemicals so they can mix and match until they find a substance that works best to dissolve the outer thin layers of metal therefore revealing the date :) |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Quote:
Edit: I had a chat with him. He will take it from a different approach. Good decision. This could be an interesting experiment. Keep us informed. What level is this going on? High School, College or..... Edited by bpoc1
05/01/2014 4:35 pm
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Valued Member
United States
240 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Quote: I need to supply him with dateless Buffalo nickels, and there will be a lab in which he will create unto how to restore the dates. What is going on? This guy/gal teacher is out of their mind . IMHO There should be some sort of exchange. |
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Pillar of the Community
Korea, Republic Of
1881 Posts |
Anyways, that sounds like a pretty fun experiment. I wonder if it's going to inspire new collectors...?
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Valued Member
United States
226 Posts |
We did an experiment in high school chemistry back in the 60's where we had to determine the percentage of silver in a dime. This definitely destroyed the dimes.
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Pillar of the Community
1325 Posts |
I would be talking to the police, dean, or principal or someone if this happened to me. A studnet should never be asked for his property for a lesson. Banks exist and he/she can go find their own coins to use.
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Pillar of the Community
Korea, Republic Of
1881 Posts |
Quote:
I would be talking to the police....... The chemistry teacher sounds like he is just one clueless man who really needs some help from someone knowledgable. If I was Left, I would be happy to help the teacher or simply say say sorry and give him information as on where to buy the coins, how much it will be, etc. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
 Shadz response seems a bit excessive....imo. Likely the teacher has no idea as to the of the cost of dateless Buffs. Sounds like a great/fun experiment....Maybe you could get the class excited about coins by asking to give a brief history of the test subject? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
He could always go to a local coin shop, buy some junk silver coins he needs, do the experiment and then sell the coins back to the shop for only a minor loss.
Edited by BadThad
05/01/2014 7:21 pm
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Replies: 24 / Views: 2,914 |
Posted 05/01/2014 1:24 pm
