Decided to weigh/ring test some that i have not done yet,,According to my cheap scale,all were 31.1 a few were 31.0,,Magnet slides slowly, does NOT ring like others such silver dollars, they really ring out,,also the ones in question don't sustain like ASE's or Libertads. They do kind of have a high pitch tone when hit, but short sustain, Any ideas
When I do ring tests, it's either pass or fail with nothing in between as they either make a ping sound, or they make a thunk sound. 31.0-31.1 sounds good, especially if you scale isn't perfect.
I agree with Blaubart. Usually its a pass/fail. I am not a chemist/sound engineer, but I believe the ring test is testing the fact silver will ring, (but will be variable based upon composition and manufacture), but alloys designed to mimic the SG of silver do not have this property. This is how its "always been". However, I am not positive better alloys could not be constructed that would ring, so for silver I stick with recognizable coins, items I can identify as correct without having to wonder about the metal content. I leave silver rounds and bars to others, and only buy coins.
Testing only works on the surface though. Ring testing is to make sure its not simply base metal coated with silver. Check Youtube, there are quite a few coated silver fakes out there that acid testing will not catch.
Typically what I will do is stand up, hold one coin level, and drop the other coin on it from a foot above so it flips end over end really fast ringing all the way down. If the ring doesn't sustain then I'd seriously question it.
I'm surprised some weigh 31.0, 31.1-31.3 is in the normal range, even up to 31.5 or so is not too unusual. Bad for a companies reputation if their product is light, maybe your scale is just off by a little though.
i may go to a local jeweler to see if i could use their scale or have the laser tester,,,Like i said they passed the magnet test and do have a high pitch when hit but a short sustain...Compared to a silver dollar they have a much sorter ring,,
Shoot, if I have to do a 'ring' test to determine if the round is legit or not then I'm a danged fool for buying it. Buy only accepted and recognized sources of bullion. Anything else and you run the risk of getting burned..........
i can't believe i am thinking of this but,,Thinking of cutting on in half with bolt cutters,,,any how check this out,,,sound can be different and a slight thud...what do you think of both,,, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl9xWtphiK8
Thanks very much for you comments,,,have you been burned before...having a variety kinda adds some fun to the investment/hobby no?
What to buy though? Everything is faked these days, there are fake silver eagles, maple leafs, generics, even 90% pre 65 USA coinage has been faked. GSM indian buffalo rounds are well recognized, one of the most popular generic rounds out there.
If you still feel uncomfortable about their authenticity go for it, you will really only lose a few bucks in value by doing it, $1-$3 I'd say. They are probably fine if dimensions are correct, weight is correct on some of them and within 0.1 grams on the others (might be your scale?), plus you bought it from a dealer with a good reputation I assume? (I don't know much about JM bullion, or how long they've been around)
Yeah, I knowingly purchased a 90% Chinese fake Morgan and it turns out it wasn't 90% at all. Jeesh, what is this world coming to when you can't even trust your friendly Chinese counterfeiter. Thanks J-Man