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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Paul M., post: 2404872, member: 73165&quot;][USER=23368]@saltysam-1[/USER] is right.&nbsp; For these silver bars, you really want to have a scale and a way to measure the volume of the bars.&nbsp; From the weight and volume, you can calculate density/specific gravity and compare to known reference values for .999 fine silver.&nbsp; You should also get yourself a small neodymium magnet.&nbsp; Silver is not magnetic, but is paramagnetic.&nbsp; A magnet will not stick to the silver, but, if you angle the bar at a 45 degree angle and slide the magnet down it, it will slide rather slowly due to its paramanetism. Also, google the &quot;ice test&quot; for silver.&nbsp; These tests are all non-destructive.</p><p><br /></p><p>For testing the outer surface to determine if it&#039;s silver or not, a quick and dirty way is the bleach test.&nbsp; For this, you put a tiny drop of bleach on the bar and observe the reaction.&nbsp; Pure silver will turn black almost instantaneously.&nbsp; Don&#039;t do this on fine art bars, obviously, because it will put a nice, big, black spot on it.</p><p><br /></p><p>An acid test kit works on a similar principle to the bleach test.&nbsp; By observing a chemical reaction, you can determine if something is silver, gold, or copper.&nbsp; It uses nitric acid, which is a very strong acid and should be handled with extreme care.</p><p><br /></p><p>Both the bleach test and the acid test are somewhat destructive tests, and should not be done on coins with numismatic value or collectible art bars or rounds.&nbsp; The other tools [USER=23368]@saltysam-1[/USER] referred to (calipers, loupe, books) are far more useful for coins and art rounds/bars than they are for generic bars.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hope that helps!</p><p><br /></p><p>PS I&#039;d get a scale with at least .01g resolution.&nbsp; There are several 500 x .01g scales available on Amazon for around $10 that will do the trick.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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