How to spot fake or counterfeit silver coins and bars

[LittleJohnSilver]

And the tips and tricks you use.

I reckon the first tip would probably be.....if in doubt or it's too good to be true.....walk away.

[Martlet]

Know the correct size and weights.

I wonder how many people check/test routinely?  I confess I dont except first few items and ebay purchases.  

[kiskelo]

This site could be helpful,

https://www.fakebullion.com/index.php

[BackyardBullion]

12 minutes ago, LittleJohnSilver said:

And the tips and tricks you use.

I reckon the first tip would probably be.....if in doubt or it's too good to be true.....walk away.

I have done a bunch of videos on this topic 

 

[LittleJohnSilver]

One of the reasons I am so reluctant to buy off ebay is the sheer risk of getting a melon.

I've been seeing ads like these for a good few weeks now and just keep getting that bad vibe, especially when you see how few feedback the seller has.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2018-Albion-100g-Sheffield-Hallmarked-100-gram-Silver-Bullion-Bar/183135341439?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BAIRD-CO-999-9-FINE-SILVER-500g-BAR/222791792764?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/silver-bars-250g-sealed-unopened-x5/323158792746?hash=item4b3dc3da2a:g:29IAAOSwKJFasXSN

 

[Lowlow]

Non-scientific, but keep silver around.  What I mean is keep it in your hand, keep small stacks of it laying around, a few coins here or there, carry one in your pocket, constantly be playing with them, have some "sacrificial" coins that you don't care if they get dinged up so you can have them in hand, sleep with a few beside the bed, etc.  For one thing, it's just fun to have a few silver in hand as something to fidget with, as long as you don't start annoying others with them, but the main thing is that over time you really develop a feel for how much they weigh, what they sound like when dropped or clinked together, what the edges of the coins feel like, how big they feel in your hand, how thick, what they look like when they have a little bit of tarnish, how crisp the relief is, etc.  You'd be surprised how easy it is to spot some (not all) fakes when you are familiar with the coins just by picking them up and examining them, often times they just don't "feel right", or there's "something about them ..." that you can't quite explain.  You can get to the point where you pick up an unfamiliar stack of 20 coins, run them through your hands so each one clinks against the next sequentially, and kind of hear that one doesn't sound quite right, or set them down one by one and one doesn't "feel right".

[PansPurse]

Likewise have a video on this 

 

[Jay2]

@PansPurse Nice video. And the calligraphic 3 is super pretty.