How to tell if Silver is Fake?

I've been seeing alot of fake Chinese replicas that are getting harder and hard to tell the authenticy. But its not only the old coins they are faking, they now fake bullion rounds and bars.

The three ways I know of are the weight, magnetic, ring test, and physical look. I also know you can test with the acid but that would ruin collectibles and new bullion.

Does anyone have any other methods which they test counterfeits?

 

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Might get to the stage of density test or cutting with a knife to see if it is plated or not.

Who knows - it might get to the stage where dealers might need portable x-rays for kilo / pound gold bars.

This is an example: http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/applications/ut-testing-gold-bars/

Interesting times really.

 

I have a Silver American Eagle 1oz bullion round that im sure is real because all of my others are the same size, But I also just got a 1oz Standing Liberty round that is smaller, I wonder if its fake.

 

Is it thicker? Weigh it.

 

Its not thicker but its the same weight, It also dosent right like silver does

 

It is hard to tell if a silver is fake but if you scratch it in a stone and if show silver again it means it is not fake.In Finland where their is a company who do silver for cash at http://www.verkkokulta.fi/ they know that the silver is fake and gold is fake.

 

Magnet slide test is the best way.

 

my only issue unless your buying large quanities of gold your not going to need one of these expensive machines.. a common buyer may not be able to afford it..
or much rather NUMISMATIST

 

What is the magnetic slide test? I am curious.

 

Specific gravity is very useful if you wish to learn it.
It takes a little time to understand it all.
Once you get there it's really simple.
This old link is great but I can't find the images that came out with it.
Someone here will have a better link on the topic.
http://www.numismedia.com/101/index5.shtml

 

One thing I love about this hobby is you can never learn to much. I just book marked that page. Thank you.

 

This source assumes a triple beam type of balance , which although readily available as surplus is not even commonly found in labs any more, and I would guess that 90% or more of numismatists have only electronic balances available. Here is a specific gravity 'kit' which can be used with electronic balances, or a 'poorman's ' physical balance that is less costly, but both are very reasonable .
http://www.mineralab.com/SpecificGravity/

 

A very informative video.

 

Some say silver also melts ice quicker.
Never tried it myself.

 

You are talking about the specific heat constant of an element. It is even more difficult to do than a specific gravity. My College chem students have a hard time getting good answer even with calorimeter setup and good balances and thermometers. Here is a page to give you an idea.

http://www.kentchemistry.com/links/Energy/SpecificHeat.htm

 

just go buy a Olympus

 

Magnetic slide test...this was new to me.
http://www.silvercoins.com/fake-silver-coins-14-ways-to-spot-counterfeits/

 

If you cannot buy a xray analysis machine magnetic test is foolish silver is not magnetic

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