How many ounces is this Silver Bar??? Help please!

Thanks. Can somebody direct me to a website where I can calculate what the weight of this bar SHOULD be (in grams) if its 55 ounces?

 

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Don't need a web site for that. If the bar is 55ish ounces, then it SHOULD weigh right around 55 ounces.

What you should do is weigh it on a fairly accurate scale, calculate the volume, and then confirm that the density is right for silver.

This site came up #2 on a Google search for calculate silver density:

http://www.allmeasures.com/formulae/static/materials/29/density.htm

Also, do a magnet test. Even if you don't have a strong rare earth magnet, surely you at least have some sort of magnet. Does it stick?

 

If it's 55 ounces, it should weigh... 55 ounces. :devil:

I most often simply use Google to do troy-avoirdupois conversions:

"55 troy ounces in pounds"

55 troy ounces = 3.77142857 pounds

"55 troy ounces in ounces"

55 troy ounces = 60.3428571 ounces

 

With a strong magnet, you should also be able to feel it "drag" if you move it quickly along the surface of the bar. Even if that happens, though, it doesn't guarantee that the bar is solid silver all the way through.

 

Remember troy ounces vs avoirdupois ounces though.

31.1 grams in a troy ounce, 28.35 grams in an avoirdupois ounce.

 

Copper also has this same effect. If it's silver plated copper, it will feel about the same as solid silver when you move a magnet across it. Of course if it's silver plated copper, then it will weigh aboput 80% of what silver would weigh.

 

Just got back from two different places (a jewelry store and a pawn shop).

The jewelry store said that a guy will be in Friday and will test it for free with his $10,000 x-ray machine. He said to come back then but he thought that it was stainless steel because of its weight.

The pawn shop tested it on a magnet and they said that it wasn't silver because it had a faint magnetic attraction.

I then came back to work (at a high school) and visited a science lab. I weighed the bar and it weighed in at 1350 grams. I then recalculated the volume in centimeters and after calculating the density, the verdict is in...I'm an idiot!

I'm going to try to call the guy tonight to see if I can get my money back but I doubt it. Thanks for all the help everybody!

 

sad story...

 

If you can locate him, sic the cops on him.

 

Assuming he answers your call, and doesn't want to refund your money, you might mention to the guy that your next call will be to the police.

I searched a little bit and couldn't find the dollar amount that defines felony fraud in Indiana. In most states it's $500. Some states word it such that it's a misdemeanor if the amount in question is $500 or less, others word it so that it's a felony if it's $500 or more. The reason I point this out is because police treat misdemeanor offenses much differently than they do felony offenses. Also because the amount in question is $500. Perhaps he knows the laws and didn't want to venture into felony territory. Either way, I'm sure the police know...

Good luck!

 

If I get to the point where I call the police, should I call my local authorities, the authorities where he lives or the authorities where the "deal" took place (halfway between)?

Anybody else think that I should call the police regarding this scam? Will this stand up or should I just take it on the chin as a lesson learned?

 

$5 I'd take on the chin. $500 is a different story.......

 

Call the sheriffs office, not 911 emergency.

 

It won't hurt to call and I would call where the deal took place. Every state has different laws, but people are saying Fraud. I think theft by deception is the more appropriate charge. Anyway, I would definitively call the police and let them explain what your options are.

 

It's never simple...

Who knows if it'll stand up, but it'll at least get his attention.

 

I've got a Silver Eagle right here with your name on it. $5 shipped!

 

Okay, the saga continues...

I called the guy and there was no answer so I left a message. However, he called me back about an hour later and I just got off the phone with him. I explained to him that there's a 99% chance that's its not silver. I told him that I will get it scientifically tested on Friday (for free at a local jeweler) and if it comes back that it's not silver, I would like to get my money back.

He seemed very apologetic and told me that if it didn't test for silver, he would "stand behind" our deal and refund the money. However, he also said that if it is silver, he would like more money because he realized that it was worth more than what it was. I told him that I would answer that question once I realize the composition of the metal.

Also, I got his name and address (I already had his phone number). Hopefully, this all works out okay.

Seriously, thanks for all of you who have responded to this post. Your support has helped me out tremendously with this bad deal.

 

I wish you luck my friend.

 

That's ridiculous. He said that in the hopes you wouldn't take it to get it tested. If by some miracle the bar turns out legit, you are under no obligation to give the guy anymore money. In any event, I think that point is moot as we know there is more than a good chance the bar isn't silver.

Also, prepare for his name and address to be fake, but the phone number is a good way to identify him assuming it's not a disposable cell phone.

And maybe you stated this and sorry if you did, but how did you get in contact with this guy in order to make this deal?

 

He called me because of an ad I had on craigslist.