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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Insider, post: 2459041, member: 24314&quot;]Read the posts above about specific gravity tests. Decades ago I learned from an authenticator that the ANA authentication service used a Mettler balance good to .001 for specific gravity tests.&nbsp; The balance was on a granite table.&nbsp; Later, while at the first grading and authentication service - INSAB he upgraded to a Sartorious balance good to .0001 for the same test.&nbsp; In his experience, alloys of copper were very difficult to determine.&nbsp; One story he told that should drive an authenticator nuts was to send in a well circulated War nickel and claim it was struck off-metal on a nickel blank! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie52" alt=":hilarious:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie52" alt=":hilarious:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie52" alt=":hilarious:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>For example, nickels should be 8.9 and War nickels 9.3.&nbsp; He said the guys could usually not tell if a circulated War nickel was struck on a silver or nickel blank! </p><p><br /></p><p>These days, the EXPENSIVE hand held units are the way to go as many modern fakes have traces of elements they should not have.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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