Can You Reliably Tell If Silver Is Real Without Machines?

[TomBarn]

So I got silver from 3 separate websites over the last few months. Bullionbypost, auragentum and goldsilver.be. I weighted the coins and used a magnet to see if it slides slowly over the coin. I also took one coin from each dealer to a shop and the owner scratched the coins lightly over a black stone (I forgot the name of it) and then used acid on the stone to see if the coins have good quality. He said they are good, but if I really want to find out if the silver is real, then I need to use a machine (the ones with laser I guess?).

Do I have to go through that step if I want to ensure the quality of my coins? I will temporarily turn away from silver and start buying gold until I find a dealer that can assure me of the quality of silver.

[Paul]

9 minutes ago, TomBarn said:

So I got silver from 3 separate websites over the last few months. Bullionbypost, auragentum and goldsilver.be. I weighted the coins and used a magnet to see if it slides slowly over the coin. I also took one coin from each dealer to a shop and the owner scratched the coins lightly over a black stone (I forgot the name of it) and then used acid on the stone to see if the coins have good quality. He said they are good, but if I really want to find out if the silver is real, then I need to use a machine (the ones with laser I guess?).

Do I have to go through that step if I want to ensure the quality of my coins? I will temporarily turn away from silver and start buying gold until I find a dealer that can assure me of the quality of silver.

Try the Silver "Ping" test 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=silver+coin+ping+test

 

[Happypanda88]

39 minutes ago, TomBarn said:

So I got silver from 3 separate websites over the last few months. Bullionbypost, auragentum and goldsilver.be. I weighted the coins and used a magnet to see if it slides slowly over the coin. I also took one coin from each dealer to a shop and the owner scratched the coins lightly over a black stone (I forgot the name of it) and then used acid on the stone to see if the coins have good quality. He said they are good, but if I really want to find out if the silver is real, then I need to use a machine (the ones with laser I guess?).

Do I have to go through that step if I want to ensure the quality of my coins? I will temporarily turn away from silver and start buying gold until I find a dealer that can assure me of the quality of silver.

What coins did you buy ? 

I'd say if they are standard silver bullion coins, then the chance of receiving non genuine silver products from those dealers mentioned is next to zero! Most members on the forum would be able to judge from a hi-res photo should you wish to add pictures.

You could use the specific gravity test as well. Here is a video from a forum member.

 

 

[Gordy]

Gravity test can be used, no machinery, just maths

cool bit of fun too but not accurate.. ice cubes... 

[daca]

2 hours ago, TomBarn said:

So I got silver from 3 separate websites over the last few months. Bullionbypost, auragentum and goldsilver.be. I weighted the coins and used a magnet to see if it slides slowly over the coin. I also took one coin from each dealer to a shop and the owner scratched the coins lightly over a black stone (I forgot the name of it) and then used acid on the stone to see if the coins have good quality. He said they are good, but if I really want to find out if the silver is real, then I need to use a machine (the ones with laser I guess?).

Do I have to go through that step if I want to ensure the quality of my coins? I will temporarily turn away from silver and start buying gold until I find a dealer that can assure me of the quality of silver.

This is overkill, the 3 PM dealers mention by you turn each month tens of thousands if not millions, none will put their reputation at risk for a few hundreds euros, regarding selling veritable coins/ bars (and yes I know that some have bad customer support).  

If you buy from the secondary market,  especially fleebay, facebook or instagram, then yes testing is a must.

 

Edited August 3, 2022 by daca

[dangelo]

4 hours ago, daca said:

This is overkill, the 3 PM dealers mention by you turn each month tens of thousands if not millions, none will put their reputation at risk for a few hundreds euros, regarding selling veritable coins/ bars (and yes I know that some have bad customer support).  

If you buy from the secondary market,  especially fleebay, facebook or instagram, then yes testing is a must.

 

Agree - only need to test if from an un-trusted source or if you have a reason to suspect.

[TomBarn]

Thank you for the reassurance guys. I thought my coins were useless for a moment. 

I took them to two different goldsmiths and I was kind of shocked that they have never seen coins with designs and so shiny at the same time. And these are the Britannias so it's a good thing I didn't take any of the expensive stuff with me. 

[Happypanda88]

15 minutes ago, TomBarn said:

Thank you for the reassurance guys. I thought my coins were useless for a moment. 

I took them to two different goldsmiths and I was kind of shocked that they have never seen coins with designs and so shiny at the same time. And these are the Britannias so it's a good thing I didn't take any of the expensive stuff with me. 

The latest design of Britannias (2021 /22) aren't so easy to copy due to the high security feartures. If you bought these from those dealers mentioned, then I wouldn't be overly concern.

 

Edited August 4, 2022 by Happypanda88

[Arganto]

As you get to see more examples of your preferred purchases you can trust your eyes more. Fakes can be quite good but silver bullion fakes are usually not difficult to spot visually especially with good examples side by side. Weight, magnetism and dimensions checked against a reliable database is plenty for the most part. A specific gravity test can be used if you're really suspicious over a particular piece, I've never felt the need to do this though. I've bought from established dealers and TSF mostly. You know, before the tragic boat accident took everything 😭

If you get into historic gold coins you may want to be on your guard a little more (sovereigns etc) as due to being intrinsically more valuable and also due to the length of time they've been available counterfeiters have produced some convincing examples.

The chance of a big dealer selling you bunk silver bullion is a minutely small one. A real gold yet fake sovereign slipping past (some of) them is a greater possibility, but still unlikely.

Edited August 4, 2022 by Arganto
Missing word

[Oddjob]

If you buy from a recognised dealer (forum listed / sponsor or other) or from someone on TSF with a solid trading history, you'd be 99.9999% certain you were / had bought 9999 Ag.

Whilst Fleabay and other online secondary market places do have genuine & honest sellers...it's the unregulated wild west out there, so "buyer beware".

[TomBarn]

I didn't get anything from Ebay and I don't see the point in doing that because I don't care much about collectable value of some coins like the red dragon of queen's beasts series. 

As a general rule if a website is listed as an official distributor for producers like royal mint, PAMP, etc. are my purchases 99% safe? 

 

[daca]

2 minutes ago, TomBarn said:

As a general rule if a website is listed as an official distributor for producers like royal mint, PAMP, etc. are my purchases 99% safe?

Yes, if the PM dealer is listed on the official page of the mint.

The mention made on the PM dealer website that he is an official distributor has 0 value without been recognized by the mint

[Oddjob]

^^^^^^^

Anyone can list "We are official distributor for Royal Mint, Perh Mint, PAMP, etc". If you don't know the dealer, do a forum search here of the name to see if any members have had dealings with that company. I've done that before and it was a solid guide to buy or not buy.

Edited August 4, 2022 by Oddjob

[KevjustKev]

On 03/08/2022 at 20:16, daca said:

This is overkill, the 3 PM dealers mention by you turn each month tens of thousands if not millions, none will put their reputation at risk for a few hundreds euros, regarding selling veritable coins/ bars (and yes I know that some have bad customer support).  

If you buy from the secondary market,  especially fleebay, facebook or instagram, then yes testing is a must.

 

Plus film when you open the packet and testing.