Its a good read. Lots of details. Fake Gold: Gold Purity Measurement Using Non Destructive Method https://www.researchgate.net/public...rity_Measurement_Using_Non_Destructive_Method
Sad state of affairs. TLDR is that for non destructive testing you require a densomiter with accuracy to 0.01 g/ml as well as an XRF in order to determine surface purity and presence of a tungsten core. I would avoid large gold bars. Fractional coins seem to be the safest bet. I presume the same situation would occur with silver given certain alloys can match density and electrical conductance close enough.
I posted a really good video about testing bullion and not one person commented on it. The bullion vault that made it said they will not store any customer products unless it passes 3 of 5 known tests becsuse its possible to pass two with a fake but impossible to pass 3. It's in my post history in case anyone is interested.
I think it's a wise move for any bullion dealer that can afford an XRF to also buy the appropriate ultrasound gear too.
I bet those under writers had used 3 of the 5 tests now .....which now also raises the potentially very ugly question of just how much fake gold is floating around in China being used to prop up loans backed by jack ?
I hope not because I got quite a few 1kg silver bars! But I should be ok coz I got nearly all of them from GoldStackers. Stick with trusted dealers and one should be ok.
Yes but there are still Chinese fake silver coins and bars. I remember not long ago there was fake 1oz silver coins selling on ebay.
One of the nice things about buying larger Perth Mint silver Lunars such as 5oz and 10oz is that they are unlikely to ever be copied and will not be as likely to be viewed with suspicion when sold IMHO.
Couldn't agree more. Round 50s are the easiest silver to stack in my opinion. Roughly 1/3oz and used to be able to get them for spot.
Yes, there's always going to be predecimal collectable fakes such as the 1930 pennies I've often seen on ebay, but I was referring to the junk predecimal which I believe is still rare. I think one of those fakes was mine wasn't it?