How to Identify a Fake Silver Bullion
If you're an avid silver bullion collector or just starting out, you don't want to pay for a fake. Fake silver coins can be difficult for an untrained person to spot, but there few telltale signs.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Study the coin carefully. Does anything raise your suspicions? If you don't have a good feeling about the coin, don't buy it.
-
2
Assess the weight of the silver bullion in your hands. If it feels too heavy or too light, then it's likely a fake. Fakes are often made of silver-plated copper or silver-plated lead.
-
-
3
Measure the diameter and thickness of the silver bullion and compare it with a genuine coin; fakes often differ slightly in size.
-
4
Examine the edges of the coin. If your research indicated that the bullion should be reeded, then the ribbed file markings should run consistently around the edge--not start and stop. Fakes may have protrusions or a seam around the edge.
-
5
Study the coin's surface. Silver has a distinctive sheen that's neither too shiny or too dull. Many fakes don't even have a silver-plated finish. Examine the coin with a magnifying glass. If you spot any crevices without a silver finishing, or the finishing is missing between the reeds, then the bullion is a fake.
-
6
Perform a sound test. When you tap a silver bullion with another coin you should hear a distinctive "ring" sound.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always buy your coins from a reputable silver bullion dealer.
