How do graders spot counterfeits?

Yah. If you find out that they play eeny, meeny, miny, moe for the grading or authenticity then that would not be good......


oops! secret's out!

 

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They'll contact someone if they have too. Between their offices around the world they have most things covered.

 

Accepted........

 

serafino, asked: "...when the graders get in a rare 200 year old or older foreign coin they are not familiar with, what are the steps they use to authenticate it."

1. The graders have consultants who know more than many of them about specific coins.

2. The graders look for similar coins in museums or at shows for comparisons.

3. The graders have diagnostic files.

4. Finally, something relatively new, there are very good images that can be magnified on the internet - something not around in the 1980's.

 

It's another fine mess you've gotten us into, Ollie!

 

THIS is why we have a special category of human beings known only as "experts."

 

Hey, what gives here? I remember quite clearly receiving every assurance that I would be the only member of the elite definition subdivision of the intergalactic language police currently assigned to patrol this sector!

 

You're still wet behind the ears........October 18th of this year? Still, you are rather observant and impudent like myself........I'll share the territory.

 

Hate to say it or not, that does sound like they have every possible base they can think of well-covered. Perhaps it's o.k. to turn off that wailing counterfeit alarm now.

 

Don't forget arrogant. I majored in all three of those critical disciplines at the academy and graduated with an expert qualification and smug honors in each.

 

Has anyone noticed that the ASEs do not state that the purity is .999 Fine Silver on them? It just says that it contains One Oz. Fine Silver. Purity is not stamped onto the piece. The AGE don't tell you they are 22kt, but the other pieces they sell, like the gold Mercury Dime, SL Quarter, WL Half, Kennedy Half have "24kt" marked on them. Would you buy a silver bar that was only marked as being silver without a purity on it?

 

An ounce is an ounce for ASEs

 

The official definition of "Fine Silver" is "silver which is 99.9 percent pure", so the term "Fine Silver" itself declares what the purity is.

 

With the understanding that that ounce is 99.9% Fine Silver, of course.

 

Ok I buy ASE Bullion Coins from mcm I am assuming that the ASE I buy are really silver. I see they sell a lot of them plus many other coins so I believe they are reputable, just take it for granted. The thought just crossed my mind the other day when I was looking at one I purchased how do I really know this is silver? mcm and many other "reputable" Co. sell SO many ASE, and we just don't even give it a second thought, just put it away with the rest of our collection. I may be paranoid I guess. There is no way for me to actually test one "I wouldn't know how" I suppose you would have to cut one in half and use some silver chemical test? I mostly read on here and try learn what is safe to buy and what to stay away from. Sorry just being silly I guess.

 

@Excuse_Me

A specific gravity test works also. Instructions are on the Internet.

 

It's not silly, it's a rational desire to be sure of something.

 

OK Thank you all for the tips/info.....