Article On Gold Bullion Forgeries - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,231
DVCollector Bedrock of the Community United States 10045 Posts	Posted 01/16/2011 4:57 pm A few years ago, a scientist friend told me how it would be profitable to make fake gold bullion by wrapping the metal around a tungsten core. With the same density as gold, fake bullion using this method could match dimensions and weight of the real thing. Here is an article discussing that possibility. It includes a link to a segment from German news showing a tungsten-core bar. Casting aside the conspiracy theories for a moment, a few questions come to mind: • When somebody buys bullion, how do they confirm the authenticity: by size, weight, or confirming details present? • At $1300+/troy per ounce of gold in this economy, would it be profitable to fake bullion, including minute details seen on bullion coins? • How many coin dealers would be fooled by tungsten-core bullion? What tests can they use to rule out fakes? Edited by DVCollector 01/16/2011 5:15 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 01/17/2011 3:34 pm Well to create the details on the bullion coin you would still have to create dies and strike the coins so you would examine them like any other die struck fake. You also have the problem that while tungsten has the same density as gold it doesn't have the same malleability it is very hard. So it probably would not strike up well. While this could be done for bars, you still have the problem of getting your hands on the tungsten, and forming it. With a melting point of over 6,000 degrees it isn't going to be easy to pour it into bars. But if you really want to do it, it can be done. Report this Post to the Staff
DVCollector Bedrock of the Community United States 10045 Posts	Posted 01/17/2011 4:21 pm Quote: while tungsten has the same density as gold it doesn't have the same malleability it is very hard. So it probably would not strike up well. Check out the German news spot, where the core was tungsten, with enough thickness to strike up markings. Besides, I have located manufacturers online who are already advertising tungsten-core bullion coins, which have well-struck detail. Go look--they are out there. While I can't say how the tungsten cores were formed, I'm sure there's more than enough motivation at current gold prices. Edited by DVCollector 01/17/2011 5:01 pm Report this Post to the Staff
x78089 Valued Member United States 255 Posts	Posted 01/17/2011 7:26 pm Good reason to stick to the smaller stuff. 1/2oz and below. Report this Post to the Staff
3stooges Pillar of the Community United States 511 Posts	Posted 01/18/2011 9:00 pm If it wasn't for tungsten's high met point, the Chinese would be flooding the world with counterfeit gold coins. Don't count them out yet. Report this Post to the Staff
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