Does anyone know of an alternative to the Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier?

You may or may not find this helpful -

https://www.dmia.net/gold-tester-reviews/

I would however mention to you that when it comes to the various testers available on the market, it depends on exactly what you're trying to determine or find out about a coin or bar, that determines if, big if, a given tester will even be of any use to you.

For example, if all you want to know is the gold content, well yeah, some testers can tell you that. But if you want to know if a coin is a counterfeit or not - there is no tester that tell you that. The only thing that answer that for you is someone, a person, who is qualified to answer - simply put, an expert in those particular coins. The reason I'm saying this is because it is extremely common for a great many counterfeits to be made of gold of the correct fineness and weight.

And contrary to what many believe the TPGs don't always qualify as being experts for with some coins they are well known for slabbing and grading counterfeits as being genuine.

 

There's always this.

 

LOL ! I recommend passing on that test.

I've always found it humorous that most folks seem to think that the reason people used to bite gold coins was to see if they were soft or not because most folks think of gold being a soft metal.

But in reality the exact opposite is true. People used to bite gold coins to see if they were hard - not soft ! When it comes to gold coins hard = good, and soft = bad.

 

When it comes to buying modern bullion coins, I'd say that an investor, large or small, doesn't need a tester - as long as he buys from reputable and trusted sources. And since there are so many reputable and trusted sources to choose from, the need for a tester is even further diminished.

And the same thing applies when buying coins of numismatic value. Buy only from reputable and trusted sources and you will rarely ever have to worry about a coin being counterfeit. And in the rare case where you might, as I mentioned above, a tester isn't going to do you any good.

That said, if one chooses to buy modern bullion or numismatic from sources other than those known to be reputable and trusted, unless you're buying in person (face to face) and have a tester with you when you do, so that the coin can be tested before purchase - well then the tester probably isn't going to do you any good either. I say that because if can only test the coin after purchase, well it's probably going to be too late for you to do anything about it if you find out the coin is counterfeit - because the seller and your money will be long gone by then.

What I'm trying to point out is that while testers have a purpose and can be useful under certain circumstances, it's going to be a rare occasion when they are useful to the average person or collector. So even if one could be manufactured that was inexpensive, which is a relative term to begin with, there would still be little and or valid reason for somebody to buy one.