large copies of coins

A customer brought me 3 coin copies -

1) 1916D Mercury dime
2) 1872 Indian Head cent
3) 1914D Lincoln cent

These appear to be somewhat old, as they are in 2 X 2 cardboard squares that have been knocked around awhile by the looks of them.

The two 1 cent coins seem to be copper, but I wonder about the dime.

I suspect that the same company made all 3 of these. The Indian measures about 33 mm in diameter, and the Lincoln about 32 mm.

The dime copy measures 25.5 mm in diameter, and 2.4 mm thick, and weighs 11.8 grams. Does it sound like it could be silver?

Thanks.........

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Those three dates I remember reading stories about people complaining about fakes in the 1960's. They have all been faked for a very long time, so I would not be surprised.

 

These are not really fakes, though, since they are much larger than standard. Just large obvious copies. As old as they are though, I wonder if the dime could be silver?

 

That's true sir. The only way to tell on the dime would be a SG test, (besides a silver test, which is destructive). Weigh it, see its displacement, and compare to a table list SG of metals is what I would suggest. I never like using gold or silver tests since they can ruin items.

 

check the weight on the coins

 

Thanks. I thought there might be some way of telling by the diameter and thickness, which could be calculated into a mass, and compared to a known bullion coin weight.

For example, since mass = (pi)(radius squared)(height), then, on my copy dime, (3.14)(162.56)(2.4) = 11.8 grams.

I wondered if a .999 fine bullion coin, could be measured the same way and see what the mass of it would be. Then maybe take a ratio of the two, and see if it is possibly silver.

Would this work at all, or is it a dumb assumption?

 

I think you would be in trouble sir because of one word, relief. You simply do not know how consistent the mass is between the two coins, and this could well be enough to lead to an incorrect decision. Height on a rim is variable, way too variable versus the rest of the coin to be very good at this calculation. If it were a smooth disc I think your calculation would work.

Just my opinion.

Chris

 

Thank you again for the information, and I think you are correct. I don't know how to do the SG test. Can you explain that to me?

Best regards