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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,684 |
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Valued Member
United States
271 Posts |
<< Link removed - not going to promote it, sorry >>
Right there on the homepage. Pics of fake gold bars and an explanation of how tungsten is such a good metal to use for making very good fakes. Fake coins, fake gold bars, fake anything and everything.
Given that some of these fake gold bars has already been discovered in some gold reserves, it begs the question of what will this end up doing to the world economy?
Scary stuff.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
They just want to make better "souvenir coins" ...makes me want to puke  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
648 Posts |
 must see link |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2120 Posts |
At fisrt I was like  and then I was like  But then I was like   Edited by Namachieli
06/13/2011 12:31 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1150 Posts |
Ian, that is funny, because I'm still not past this;  . |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Ian,  Quote:
Why tungsten alloy is used as gold substitution?
and...
Please do not use our gold-plated tungsten alloy products for illegal purpose. What.  You suppose we don't grasp the implications? Edited by DVCollector
06/13/2011 2:33 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
860 Posts |
The only need for tungsten in "fakes" is the high specific gravity ( 19.35) close to gold (19.3). However, the melting point for tungsten is over 6192 deg. F. where as gold is 1947 deg. F. Also 99 Gold has a hardness of about 3 Moh scale and Tungsten a hardness of about 9.
This means that melting and pouring tungsten is extremely difficult as the necessary containers are difficult to use. Most faking would use tungsten granules mixed with epoxy or similar material which would change the internal conduction of both heat and electrical transmissions, and although I have no reference, I imagine the sound as a brick is moved.The specific gravity would be affected also like an alloy's. As to coins, imagine how long steel dies with a hardness of 7-8 Mohs would succeed trying to impress tungsten at a hardness of 9 Mohs.
This is a tale which might have some truth, but has been low on evidence, and I can not see how it could be done. IMO obviously.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
As to coins, imagine how long steel dies with a hardness of 7-8 Mohs would succeed trying to impress tungsten at a hardness of 9 Mohs. Perhaps it's technically difficult, but what about coins or bars having a tungsten core, but enough gold on the outside to make a clear impression?  Somewhere, there is a video of a gold bar that was cut in half to reveal a tungsten core. |
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Administrator
 United States
326 Posts |
Just a note about why the link was removed. Topics here get indexed in Google usually in 2 to 4 minutes. This topic is less than 6 hours old and is already on page 1 for several searches and Google is updating with every post, just took a screenshot minutes ago....  We don't want someone googling to find out where to buy these things to scam people and finding the answer here. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
860 Posts |
Quote:
Perhaps it's technically difficult, but what about coins or bars having a tungsten core, but enough gold on the outside to make a clear impression? Somewhere, there is a video of a gold bar that was cut in half to reveal a tungsten core. As I mentioned, a core containing tungsten granules in an epoxy or even metal mix would be heavy, but not the sp. gravity a bar of solid gold should be. Could people accept such as fake as gold...Yes, if they did not test it, even with century old techniques. Newer techniques and test equipment would quickly detect the alteration. Would a government accept a random bar of gold without such testing? or not know its origin? I suspect not. I have no way of knowing if the video you speak of, was done by a respected, trusted lab or metallurgy lab, but I doubt that also. As to striking tungsten embedded in a gold surrounding, remember you have gold @ hardness of 3 surrounding a "core of tungsten @ 9 harness ( diamond is 10 mohs) , struck by a tool steel die of 7-8. I suspect the gold would be squeezed so thin, the details would be lacking and the tungsten core could be seen on the surface of the coin or bar. Imagine a glop of watery catsup on one burger patty being forcefully struck by another burger patty. :) Jim |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Yeah--a thin layer of gold between tungsten and a steel tool obviously wouldn't work. I've seen these sites before, but honestly have no idea how it would be done convincingly. Yet, with the level of counterfeiting activity going on, there may be enough profit motive to make this a possibility.
Edited by DVCollector
06/13/2011 5:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Quote:
Given that some of these fake gold bars has already been discovered in some gold reserves, it begs the question of what will this end up doing to the world economy? Would it have ANY effect on the world economy? Is any currency in the world convertible to gold and back again anymore? If not, then the only effect would be that some banks and perhaps even some countries would have assets on their books that aren't worth nearly as much as they are claiming. Who knows? Maybe someday, tungsten will become MORE valuable than gold and then all of those fakes / fakers will be coming out of the woodwork, claiming... "We have REAL tungsten in these here bars, yessiree Bob, no gold filler here!".  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
A local gold "expert" allegedly bought $120,000 in gold ounces that I could tell were fakes the instant I looked at one.
I posted about Abyssinia having the gubmint's gold bar inventory replaced by gold-plated steel. How long should it take a ten year old to catch that?
In another thread, someone said an easy test for tungsten is a drill press with hard needles as bits. Hole in bar = gold, broken needle = tungsten.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,684 |
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Posted 06/13/2011 11:50 am
