I really need to compliment this guy, he explained silver testing for the common person, better and more accuratly then the dozens of other videos I've watched on the subject, ....not everyone wants to spend thousands on equipment, kinda defeats the purpose of getting cheap silver, it becomes pricey if you can't test it cheaply and on the fly at times, pricey in that your buying fake silver or expensive testers ..Gl!
Testers are just one tool in the tool box. I have had counterfeit 2.5 and 5 gram Pamp Fortuna bars test as real on the sigma so don't rely on just one method of testing. Also, Anything that has been sourced through the legitimate supply chain has virtually no risk, It is when it walks through the front door and bought over the counter that products need scrutiny. Grow your stack!
Hi some feller! Yes, it's always great to be able to ensure your precious metals are genuine! There are many inexpensive tests you can do, weight test, diameter/thickness test, ping test, magnet test, slide test. 😎
I'm still trying to wrap my head around how they make sliver. I seen a video of a guy doing the process start to finish. Starts off with a rock with some green stuff on it, looked like dried up old hand soap, says the green stuff is silver. Melts it down, ads a bunch of another metal that looks exactly like sliver, pours in a bunch more of a different kind of metal that looks exactly like silver. Then he's like "ok that's pure silver" the amount he made was about equal to the other two metals he added... I don't understand... still trying to wrap my head around it. Probably lying about how they make it, like how they lie about gold. Force mercury to shed an electron voila! Gold. Do it again voila! Platinum.
You can also test silver with an ice cube. An ice cube melts pretty quickly on silver. I don’t know if gold is the same. But other metals does not melt the cube as fast.
I started stacking a year ago and this is the best 'watch for fake silver' video I've seen. Thanks Portland Precious Metals and Coins & Silver Dragons.
Silver is an element on the periodic table. The metal can't be faked but the product design can. Most fakes are really only good enough to fool you long enough to get your money in the scammers pocket. Then you get home, examine closer and call your LCS and ask them to test it for you. Numismatic coins are a whole different story though. Scammers have been counterfeiting coins ever since coins started being used. Grow your stack!
Hi Michelle Sha! Yes, in the stacking community we want everyone to be safe, especially the new stackers! It's important to know that the coins we work hard to pay for, are genuine! 😎 Stay safe and keep on stacking!
Most of the time I can tell its fake before they even pull it out of their pockets. from the other side of the room. When you handle these metals and products a lot you get to know them intimately. Get to know your metal. Grow your stack!
These interviews you do with local coin stores are awesome and I really appreciate them. Good information all around, and good exposure for the store owners. Win-Win!
I really appreciate you two speaking about the physical properties of the metal, and that we should remember that we are buying an element with known properties. I found it very useful to have it laid out in a sequential list of tests of physical properties to tell if you have a fake or not. And how sophisticated fakes may pass one test, but there are still other physical ways to tell.
I'm glad you checked this place out. I've driven past it for years, and even though I've only recently started going to coin shops, I never intended to try this one out because of the area of town it was located in. Looks like a decent place after all.
I thought the interview was great. Really good information on how to simply verify that your silver is real. Mike is an asset to the coin and bullion community here in Portland.
One of You BEST Videos Dragon! 👍I love the tips these Professionals give. Thanks keep em coming. Hope the Treasury Dep. catches more of these scammers, they need to stiffen penalties and publicly "out" people who knowingly create & sell Fakes!
I simply cant say enough about Portland Precious Metals. Best shop in Portland by far. They have always been curteous and professional and they care about their customers.
I absolutely love that saying you're faking design and not the metall" This man seemed to have learned from trail and error dealing with precious metals and doing his research. 😮
After watching your video, I had to pull out all of my silver and put it all through the tests. Whew...glad I did as all of the coins/bars passed all of the tests. Thank for a great video and your "Public Service Announcement"
Great information, I only buy from dealers, the cost is too high for me if I end up with fakes. Yea I'll pay a little more but I view it as an insurance policy.
Great vid, SD. Mike is another LCSOwner with great tips. Makes me wish New Zealand had LCSs; I could build a good friendship with these guys. Going to look at his channel now. I enjoy watching these vids: good info, for the new(er) stacker. Thx, SD.
So nice you went and made a visit to see Mike and also Mike-lol. I've bought 90% percent from them numerous times and I will for sure pay them another visit before the end of the year. Always chill and a very smooth transaction! Portland Precious Metals and Coins is a great lcs. Please support them!
@Legacy $tacker Thanks Legacy Stacker. Winning that auction saved me $24. The buy it now price was $572.42 It definitely made me excited to get for what did. Winner winner chicken dinner..🤣
I use an ultrasonic thickness tester and a caliper, both of which can be had for about $150 together. It is imo the best way to verify metals. It doesnt damage the metals in any way and can be used on any metal. What you do is measure the thickness of the metal with the caliper and then you use the ultrasonic thickness tester to measure it again and if the ultrasonic measurement matches the caliper measurement then its legit. If the ultrasonic measurement does not match then its fake. It works by passing sound waves through the metal and since it is known at what speed sound travels through different metals you can set the thickness tester to the correct feet per second for the type of metal you are testing and easily verify any metal. I rarely see anyone mentioning this method of verification so i hope this helps people out.
Good video. If it weren't for cost I would have a bunch of those fakes for a dummy safe. The fake Sunshine bar should be hard to fool the security feature which requires a decoder card to verify.
In my 40+ years of numismatics one of the ways that’s work the best for me on testing silver is that when you slide your finger across that with very little pressure, you can feel slight resistance. On fakes they are very smooth.
You're the first person I've seen that has said this tip. I've also noticed this, too. don't do it on shiny stuff, but it works great for lower grade Morgans, peace dollars, bars and rounds,, etc. Best way i can describe the texture is "smudgy".
I live near a small town. I received some very questionable silver coins online. The Post Office weighed them and they were .77 oz. But I did get my money back.
The same concept applies to things like 10 oz bars etc. A silver plated copper bar that weighs correctly and passed the magnet test will be too thick if the dimensions are correct for that brand. Grow your stack!
Safes are scary pinchpoint monsters. I've done what he apparently did and an thankful to still have my finger. With a big, heavy safe door it doesn't have to be swinging fast at all to do serious damage. The closer you get to the hinged side of the door, the more dangerous they are.
FYI-Selling 5oz of silver for $150 is NOT selling at spot. Plus + shipping. That is average or higher pricing than most bullion companies. Where are the savings?
Who is charging that much for a 5 oz bar? Don't go there. We are at $136 at todays price. For less than $150 you can get a much nicer 5 oz St Helena Queens virtues coin. Grow your stack!
