Testing Silver

W

Walbertross

New Member
Hey guys,
I'm new to the forum. I have always bought my silver from the perth mint in bars. Im looking to get some coins now and almost everyone undercuts the mint for coins.

What are the easiest ways to check the purity of coins?

Why do some coins go for a lot cheaper than others. By this i mean for example, 100x1991 kookaburras were $3120 versus 100x2012 kookaburras $3600. Just an example, not actual prices.

Appreciate your feedback!

Tom :)
 
Walbertross said:
Hey guys,
I'm new to the forum. I have always bought my silver from the perth mint in bars. Im looking to get some coins now and almost everyone undercuts the mint for coins.

What are the easiest ways to check the purity of coins?
Click to expand...
Bulk, government bullion coins... don't even bother checking purity unless something is majorly off.
Walbertross said:
Why do some coins go for a lot cheaper than others. By this i mean for example, 100x1991 kookaburras were $3120 versus 100x2012 kookaburras $3600. Just an example, not actual prices.

Appreciate your feedback!

Tom :)
Click to expand...
scarcity... Ironically. Since 2012 kooks are sold out not many bullion dealers can/are offering them thus premium. 91 kooks on the other hand are fairly available through a few sources. To make it simple buy the 91s... MUCH better deal
 
no he is saying its an opportunity because they are reminting them so they are cheap now but the premium will shoot back up once they hit the 300k mintage.

although you can find them cheaper than 2012 so it's a better deal anyways so you are right as well walbertross.

silverbulldog
 
Walbertross said:
Does anyone here test silver in anyway? If so can you detail what methods you use?

Cheers
Click to expand...
There's already a thread somewhere about this ,what kind of silver are you thinking of testing . Specific gravity tests with water .
If your thinking about testing each coin you purchase ,THIS GAME'S NOT FOR YOU ;)
Get to know what your buying & who from first .
I'm assuming an XRF machine is nowhere near you ?
 
Everything I have been buying is from people with good reps here or bullion places. I keep records of each particular item such as who I got it off and price, if I ever had a problem with anything I will just go back to them and ask what the go is. That said I think the odds of ever having a problem are next to none (am I right in assuming that? I can see someone jumping in and telling me I am wrong and there is dodgy stuff around?)
Bullion sellers must be able to spot dodgy stuff and check it when they get it?
 
Newtosilver said:
Bullion sellers must be able to spot dodgy stuff and check it when they get it?
Click to expand...

Yep ,& they don't even need to test it most of the time ,the eye is pretty good at catching fakes ,
But they do test most things, they wouldn't bother testing 10oz PM bars ,if somebody tried to fake one most dealers would pick it in one second .
 
spannermonkey said:
Walbertross said:
Does anyone here test silver in anyway? If so can you detail what methods you use?

Cheers
Click to expand...
There's already a thread somewhere about this ,what kind of silver are you thinking of testing . Specific gravity tests with water .
If your thinking about testing each coin you purchase ,THIS GAME'S NOT FOR YOU ;)
Get to know what your buying & who from first .
I'm assuming an XRF machine is nowhere near you ?
Click to expand...


Im not planning on testing, I am curious of the methods of people who do.
 
Cheap methods only.

Reputable dealers/stackers (with large sizes only through dealers or direct from mint). Eye and feel tests. Quality pocket scales with 0.01g touted accuracy (can get, say, Palmscale 300 for under $80 delivered). Ring test for silver and rare earth magnet slide test (can get magnets for <$10 quite easily). As a small stacker don't see the point in xrf given their cost and anything large that you want to be test can be the stuff it fails on.
 
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