Beth Deisher has some critical points to make, and we should take careful note of them.
Some suggestions for detection of tungsten cored .900 gold covered bullion coins:
1*. Variations in high density magnetic flux
2**. Variations in ping tone
3***. variations electrical resistance test
* Has been done for at lest 50 years for crack detection of cast metal products.
** I have advocated the ping tone test on many threads here in the CCF. I have been criticized for suggesting such a test, but if it is done safely there is absolutely no injury to the coin being tested.
*** A standard test that has been used for decades in coin operated vending machines.
For my part, I buy
Perth Mint bullion coins direct over the counter, in Perth Western Australia, when I visit there every couple of years or so. Same can be done by American investors in direct over the counter buying from American Mints. Beth Deisher has suggested this.
Just keep all of the purchase records to establish an independently proven provenace. If delivered through parcel post, it becomes even more essential to keep all purchase records.
I collect ancient coins.
I only buy high end items from internationally recognized auctioneers and dealers. Again, I have always kept all of the purchase records under separate security to prove provenance. Essential if my kids have to sell my collection out of my estate, after I kick the bucket.
My first international purchase was from Spinks in London, in 1978. I still have the purchase records and Polaroid pictures for this coin
Never been keen on buying on line from sellers unknown to me, except for low priced items, slabbed or unslabbed.
As Beth Deisher has explained, the Chinese either buy unused slabs direct from the manufacture, or make excellent fakes of them.
To check a doubtful coin, the slab has to be broken. There is a disinclination for the owner of a slabbed coin to break the the coin out of the slab for authentication,
and the Chinese know this.
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Same scene for life critical pharmaceutical drugs. When the drug companies charge exhorbitant prices to American residents for their products, there is always the temptation to either reduce the strength or otherwise fake such drugs by the unscrupulous outside America.
This can be an extremely dangerous situation.
Most of this sort of fakery is done in India, again with excellent fake packaging.
I would suggest if such drugs are needed and you are living near the Canadian border, that you buy these products directly from Canadian supplier. Because the prices are lower, there is less temptation to sell fake drugs or drugs of less than the prescribed strength.
Posted 08/04/2019 11:14 am
