How To Know The Inside Metal - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,278
antwerpen2306 Pillar of the Community Belgium 1194 Posts	Posted 02/08/2015 12:14 pm I have three medals , same representation , one in silver , the 2 others gold plated .How can I know the metal of wich the plated are made ? The pics are not very good , but the first two are of the silver medal ,the last two of the gold plated . The weight is ;48,4 gr for the silver with a diameter of 48 mm , 52,8 gr and 61,3 gr by 47,5 mm for the two plated I have . Albert Report this Post to the Staff

nalaberong Pillar of the Community Canada 2805 Posts	Posted 02/08/2015 12:25 pm There is a test called the "specific gravity test". This will tell you the volume of the medal. When you have volume and weight, you can calculate density (which is measured in grams per milliliter) - and every metal has a different density, so this should give you your answer. For example, silver-plated copper would have the density of copper. Here are some links: http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/...PIC_ID=39666 http://www.attilacoins.com/Calculat...ity_coin.asp http://www.exonumi.com/?page=article&art=1 Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 02/08/2015 1:20 pm It's odd that the plated pieces weigh MORE than the silver one. That could be accomplished by making them thicker, or by using a metal denser than silver, but there aren't too many of those and most of them cost more than silver. I would agree though that a specific gravity test is the next step. Report this Post to the Staff
just carl Bedrock of the Community United States 20753 Posts	Posted 02/08/2015 6:49 pm Lead is much heavier than Silver and could be the metal inside. Would make it a much cheaper item though. Most tests that you do yourself will be just rather good guessing unless your really good at this. If I were you I'd just go to a local jewelry store and ask them. Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 02/09/2015 09:33 am Lead isn't that much heavier than silver 11.34 gm/cc for lead compared to 10.5 for silver. About .8 gm/cc difference. For the 4.4 gram difference betwee the first and second the second would have to be 5.5 cc greater in volume. Between the first and third the plated piece would have to be over 12 cc larger, or about the equivalent of five Ike dollars. Report this Post to the Staff
antwerpen2306 Pillar of the Community Belgium 1194 Posts	Posted 02/11/2015 11:10 am Thanks for all the help .I found a bronze copy in a Brussels museum with a weight of 62,8 gr .So it will be gold plated bronze .I was checking the thickness and is is 4 mm for the silver one and 5,5 mm for the plated one. Nalaberong : the test you indicated is this the test of Archimedes ? I know nothing from chemistry , but I learned of it when I was young without understanding albert Report this Post to the Staff
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