Is this 1893 mexican 8reales silver coin genuine? I pucchsed this coin in 50bucks,but im not sure this is genuine or not
#1 Try using a magnet to see if it sticks. Silver is non-magnetic. #2 Try weighing the coin. Silver is heavier than other metals used in fakes. #3 Use a krause coin catalog book 1801-1900 and verify that the date and mint for this 8 reales is correct or that it exists at all. I would reach for my krause book to help you out, but the hour is late in Los Angeles and my whiskey is closer. Sorry
Lead is actually a little heavier (denser) than silver, and it has been used to make fakes, so you have to watch out for that.
I wasn't aware of the use of lead in modern coin forgeries. Good to know. Lead is so soft though it would nick easily.
silver has a definite ring to it when droped on a glass or metal top. drop a silver half or silver dollar untill you know how it sounds, then you can tell silver quickly any place
Here is some more information about fake alloys and fakes in general. http://coins.about.com/od/goldrarecoininvesting/f/fake_coin_fraud.htm
Always be careful not to damage or ding the coin when performing a ring test. The coin should be held on a finger-tip. Be sure to hold the coin above a soft surface in case the coin is dropped. You can tap the edge of the coin with something like a plastic pen or wooden pencil. If it is a struck silver coin, then the coin will ring when tapped. You may need to position your ear near the coin to properly hear the nuance of the ring.
