Anybody have any “white gold” coins?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by eddiespin, Jan 21, 2021.

  1. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    I’m just curious, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one.
     
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  3. MIGuy

    MIGuy Supporter! Supporter

    No, but I have a white boxer girl with a Royal Mint gold and silver Royal Wedding set in NGC slabs, PF68 & 69 Ultra Cameos. Does that count? IMG_3911.JPG
     
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  4. gxseries

    gxseries Coin Collector

    I believe the small Japanese gold bu coins is classified as white gold as it's made with low grade gold and silver.
     
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  5. JeffC

    JeffC Go explore something and think a happy thought!

    This is the Japanese piece that I think @gxseries is referring to. This one is 1860-1869, Japan, 2-Shu. But it's not 75% gold. Just under 30% according to Numista. And very small - about 13mm x 7.5mm.

    20210121_213910 copy.jpg
     
  6. MIGuy

    MIGuy Supporter! Supporter

    That's really neat, thank both of you guys for the info and posts!
     
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  7. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    You'd think somebody would have got the idea by now, you know? I guess it alloys well, so there's no problem there. I guess it's even found in nature in that state but usually alloyed with traces of copper, as well. They even got a name for it, electrum. I want one! :)
     
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  8. longnine009

    longnine009 Darwin has to eat too. Supporter

    Lydia minted coins from electrum.
     
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  9. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Me either eddie. I'm pretty sure they're aren't any. If there are some out there somewhere, I think it's good bet they're gonna be modern.
     
  10. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    That’s very interesting coming from you, Doug. I wonder then how a government would value a coin like that while on the gold standard, say. A coin like that would be a hybrid coin. Morgan, $1, Saint, $20, Hybrid, $10? Maybe from an economic standpoint it wasn’t feasible. Although, from a collector’s standpoint, I have to repeat, I want one!
     
  11. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

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  12. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    People call old U.S. gold coins that have been dipped “white gold.” The color is not white; it’s just pale compared to pieces that are natural.
     
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  13. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Here's the thing eddie - as long as the gold fineness doesn't change they'd value it the same.

    I think a lot of folks don't understand the difference between white gold and yellow gold. The only difference, the only thing that changes, is what the other alloy metal is. 22 karat yellow gold stays yellow because the other primary alloy metal is copper. But 22 karat white gold is white because the other primary alloy metal is silver. But both are 22 karat, or 20 karat, or 18 karat or whatever.

    The defining thing you have to understand is that the gold fineness doesn't change between yellow gold and white gold. The fineness remains the same, only the color changes.
     
  14. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    But then here's my thing, Doug. Silver is worth significantly more than copper. At the same weights of gold, the white gold coins should be worth significantly more than the yellow gold coins. White gold anything should be worth significantly more than yellow gold anything.

    To complicate this some, I understand electrum is typically unearthed tainted with copper. But, as you say, its primary alloy is silver.
     
  15. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Some purists would call this piece "white gold" although it has mellowed out in recent years.

    1842-C $5 All.jpg
     
  16. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Yeah, silver is worth more than copper. And yeah, white gold is worth more than yellow gold because of that - just not much. Consider that most gold coins are .900 fine or higher, some considerably higher. So you end up with anywhere from 1.5 - 10% silver out of the total weight of the coin even if there are no other metals mixed in. And even if the gold coin weighs an ounce, and most don't, a tenth of an ounce of silver is worth what at today's prices - $2.50 ?

    Not exactly a significant number even when you use the max possible. And it only goes down from there.
     
  17. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    I agree. I wasn’t thinking, the less gold, the less valuable. In a white gold ratio of 50/50, that’s still probably less than a yellow gold ratio of 90/10. In coins of 90 gold, the difference in the alloys is less significant that I had it, that’s right.
     
  18. BJBII

    BJBII Metrologist, CSSBB

    I believe that 18 karat white gold and 18 karat gold both contain the same amount of gold by weight. White gold is usually cut (mixed) with nickel and zinc. Then it is dipped in rhodium. I think the rhodium is what makes it shiny and white.
    Or this could all be wrong.
     
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