Hi,
As the price of silver continues to rise and interest continues to build, unfortunately, fake silver bars and coins are sure to be a growing concern as well. As a reputable company like AU Bullion deals solely with real, investment-grade silver, understanding how to identify fakes is just an extra layer of comfort you can rest assured with when making a purchase.
Here are five ways you can quickly identify whether or not your silver is real:
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Check the Weight and Dimensions
Each real silver bar or silver coin has a set standard as far as weight and dimensions are concerned. For instance, a 1 oz silver Maple leaf silver coin will weigh exactly 31.1 grams. You should make use of a weighing scale as well as a caliper to check the weight and thickness, respectively, as even the minutest defect will point towards a fake silver coin or bar.
Usually, counterfeiters will plate with lower metals, such as copper or even lead, which will impart a slight difference to the weight, a fraction, but enough to be detected by an expertise or scale.
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Utilize the Magnet Test
It shouldn’t be magnetic; it’ll stick if you hold a strong magnet near your bar or coin, that’s an instant failure.
The fake bar, if made out of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum or stainless steel, could well pass this test as well, so this should be a preliminary screening, rather than a conclusive one alone.
In this next part, we consider two tests, both involving magnetism,
Pro tip: Place the coin at a 45-degree angle and let a magnet slide down – real silver will let the magnet slide as silver is a conductive material, a process known as the magnetic slide test.
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Search Visual Details & Characteristics
Examine your silver closely in bright light. High-quality genuine silver, produced by respected mints or refiners such as the Royal Canadian Mint, Asahi Refining, or Perth Mint, will have very sharp lettering detail.
Search by:
- Revise the mint marks and logo.
- Spacing and Design between Letters/Fonts
- A smooth, professional finish, free from bubbles or ragged edges
- A blurry picture or misaligned print may show that a bill is fake even if the colors are a perfect match.
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Sound Test (Ping Test)
When tapped lightly, silver makes a characteristic high-pitched ringing sound, as if a small bell is ringing.
A quick test is to hold the coin on your finger and strike it with another coin. If you get a strong ringing sound, chances are you have a real coin, while a dull or quick sound could imply that you are holding a fake or a base metal coin.
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Verify with a Reputable Dealer or Precious Metal Verifier
When uncertain, it is always best to consult a professional with your silver pieces. Specialists like AU Bullion will be able to tell you whether they are silver or not, by utilizing an XRF tester or an ultrasonic tester, among other devices, that will determine the authenticity with little to no damage to the silver. Purchasing through trusted channels will avoid this problem altogether, as you are assured that you are getting a chain of custody directly from the mintage to you if you purchase directly through authorized dealers.
Final Thoughts
Spotting fake silver isn’t so hard; it just involves a little bit of know-how and attention to detail. Armed with the proper know-how and a trusted dealer like AU Bullion, you can assemble your silver hoard with confidence. The AU Bullion website offers investment-grade silver bars and Coins purchased directly from world-class mints and refiners so that you can protect your wealth properly with real silver, real value, and real trust.
