What does 'Sterling' mean?

Discussion in 'Silver' started by Cind3r, May 29, 2013.

  1. Cind3r

    Cind3r Active Member Silver Stacker

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    Hi

    Can anyone explain if there is some official meaning for stirling silver content other than the 925/1000 parts of silver? Does it have to contain copper as the other part? does the copper have to be 999?

    The reason i ask is i have some 1988 proof Aus $2 coins which came in boxes but had damaged capsules. Since i got them for face value i thought it would be fun to gingle them in my hands.
    I also have a very very powerfull magnet and the magnet repels the coins. To be clear the coins are not attracted to the magnet at either poles but are repeled.

    Its very strange, any help would be great thanks :)
     
  2. Matthew 26:14

    Matthew 26:14 New Member

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    just means there must be at least 92.5% silver, the other 7.5% is not required to be made up of anything in particular but is usually some base metals or alloy.
     
  3. Old Codger

    Old Codger Active Member Silver Stacker

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    Sterling.

    ;-)
     
  4. trew

    trew Active Member Silver Stacker

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    1988 $2 proofs were made in both silver and alum/bronze

    If they are a silver colour and weigh 8.43 grams they are sterling silver
    if they weigh 6.6 grams and the same colour as a regular $2 coin they are alum/bronze

    If you got a 1/4 oz silver coin for $2 you scored
     
  5. Old Codger

    Old Codger Active Member Silver Stacker

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  6. Naphthalene Man

    Naphthalene Man Active Member Silver Stacker

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    Sterling job old chap
     
  7. Old Codger

    Old Codger Active Member Silver Stacker

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    My BIL comes from Stirling (Scotland).

    Can't understand a word he says.


    OC
     
  8. Naphthalene Man

    Naphthalene Man Active Member Silver Stacker

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    I grew up in Stirling (WA). How about that.
     
  9. Fat Freddy

    Fat Freddy New Member

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    Stirling Moss was one of the most legendary race car drivers in the history of the sport.
     
  10. Old Codger

    Old Codger Active Member Silver Stacker

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  11. Espen_83

    Espen_83 Member

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    Think I've seen smaller percentage referred to as sterling.
     
  12. DanielM

    DanielM Active Member Silver Stacker

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    People can refer to a cheese burger as sterling.....doesn't make it sterling
     
  13. Cind3r

    Cind3r Active Member Silver Stacker

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    lol ok ok ok :) ill fix the spelling, my bad.

    I figured out why the coins seem magnetic. I can make anything from a 1/10th oz 999 silver coin to a 100oz bar seem magnetic with these magnets. When you move a high power magnet over any metal that conducts electricity it causes eddy currents to be generated which creates an electromagnetic field to generate in the metal that reples the magnet.

    I tested this with a 10cm/sq sheet of 2mm thick copper, aluminium and 999 silver. As expected silver has the strongest effect as its the best conductor.
     

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