Silver or no?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by brotheratom, Sep 9, 2010.

  1. brotheratom

    brotheratom Witty coin reference here

    This is a 1999 Beanie Babies Original 9 coin, I know they made clad, silver, gold, silver/gold versions of these. But I want to know which of these I have. The entire coin is silver colored, including the edge, it feels heavy like silver and sounds like silver too.
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  3. ikandiggit

    ikandiggit Currency Error Collector

    One site says it nickel/copper. Not very high value. Some sites (check google) have them as giveaways and others are selling a set of five for $5.
     
  4. Luke1988

    Luke1988 New Member

  5. brotheratom

    brotheratom Witty coin reference here

    So I shouldn't even bother with it? I honestly couldn't tell you where it came from so it isn't a big deal if it has no value.
     
  6. sgtbigred

    sgtbigred New Member

    Try the old "ring" test. Hold the coin on the tip of your finger and tap the edge gently with a metal object (tip of a pen is good). Silver will sound with a dinstinct ringing. Anything other will not ring.
    YOu can take it to a local jewler and have them use a rub bar to see if it is silver. However, chances are if it is, it will only be silver clad.
     
  7. coinman0456

    coinman0456 Coin Collector

    oh no , not the tyco beanie babies again.
     
  8. brotheratom

    brotheratom Witty coin reference here

    I tried the ring test and it does have a silver sound. I went to the Toledo Coin Exchange and the guy behind the counter told me it wasn't silver at all. It sounds silver, it looks silver and it's heavy like silver. I'll have to take it to a nearby jewelers I guess. Thanks for the suggestions.
     
  9. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Does anyone know of a source for comparative wieghts on these "things"? That is the easiest way. Next easiest would be to do a specific gravity test. If you have a graduated beaker its not hard really, get the displacement and weight and compare versus 10.9 for silver and about 8 for steel. I am just not a huge believer in ring tests since if you don't know the metallurgy of the non-silver you really don't know if there is a difference in rings.
     
  10. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    The only non destructive way to really know is going to be a specific gravity test.
     
  11. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Maybe check magnetism as well. It would be a quick way to rule out or confirm iron, steel, or nickel.
     
  12. Mvandemark

    Mvandemark Ignorant know it all

    If you don't mind getting it a little dirty on the edge you can do the make up test. Use some liquid "base" and put just a little on your arm/back of hand. Let it dry then rub the edge of it through the base, if the mark turns black it's silver.
     
  13. brotheratom

    brotheratom Witty coin reference here

    I used a magnet on it, it stuck a little. I'm thinking silver plated, so what kind of base could I use. That I would have and would work? Also, how much silver would be in this if it is just plated? Be honest, is it even worth checking?
     
  14. CheetahCats

    CheetahCats Colonial & Early American

    Use the "Toilet Paper Trick"; this isn't a joke.

    Put a piece of single ply toilet paper or single ply kleenex over the specimen in question. If it looks snow white, then it's silver. To do a control test, also put the ply over a recent quarter. If they look the same, it's not silver. If the specimen in question looks much whiter in comparison to the kleenex covered quarter, then it's at least silver plated.
     
  15. Luke1988

    Luke1988 New Member

    If its just plated the silver content is so small that you cant recover it and has no value.
     
  16. brotheratom

    brotheratom Witty coin reference here

    I'll just give it away then, even as a collector item it isn't worth much. Thanks for all the help!
     
  17. edd

    edd New Member

    hey, great test, My Beanie Babies Coin rang like bell, I need to test it. Thanks
     
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