How Can You Tell if Your Gold is Real?

[AmericasLastHope]

I know back in the old days they used to bite the coin to see if it was soft enough. There are also kits you can get to chemically test the gold.

But what is the best thing to do if, say there was a breakdown of society for example, and you didn't have access to the chemicals you needed and you wanted to trade goods for gold?

What is the best way to determine if gold is real? Or if you're being suckered by fool's gold?

 

[weatherbill]

if it looks good and the dealer is reputable and looks like a kruggerand, a maple, a kangaroo, an eagle, a phil or any of the other popular coins, no problem in reselling it...no worries.....stick to a known coin

 

[ImpeachKingGeorgeII]

First test: Put a magnet near your coin - pure gold is not magnetic & wouldn't be attracted or repelled by the magnet.

Second test: Measure it's density.

 

[Danke]

http://www.fisch.co.za/principle.htm

 

[fj45lvr]

one nice reason to trade coins because you can very quickly just check their diameter and then weigh them on a scale (small portable scales are dirt cheap).

Tungsten is the only metal that is remotely close to Gold in weight for a given size.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

First test: Put a magnet near your coin - pure gold is not magnetic & wouldn't be attracted or repelled by the magnet.

Second test: Measure it's density.

I tested this on an 18 carat watch I have and it was only somewhat magnetic. I guess the 18 carat is blended with copper. The strength of the pull though was nowhere near the strength when I put the same magnet against steel.

Does this also work with silver?

 

[ImpeachKingGeorgeII]

I tested this on an 18 carat watch I have and it was only somewhat magnetic. I guess the 18 carat is blended with copper. The strength of the pull though was nowhere near the strength when I put the same magnet against steel.

Does this also work with silver?

Yes, this would also work with silver - pure silver is not magnetic.

 

[Isaac Bickerstaff]

"Eureka!"

-Archimedes

 

[Ilhaguru]

I tested this on an 18 carat watch I have and it was only somewhat magnetic. I guess the 18 carat is blended with copper. The strength of the pull though was nowhere near the strength when I put the same magnet against steel.

Does this also work with silver?

The inner workings of the watch are most likely not gold.

 

[klamath]

Sure gold is not magnetic but so is many other metals. Specific gravity is a major way to determine if it is gold. It is 19 times heavier than water. If it is a fraud it will be plated with gold so an acid test will show it is gold unless you file below the surface before you test. Google aqua regia for testing gold.

 

[newyearsrevolution08]

What is the best way to determine if gold is real? Or if you're being suckered by fool's gold?

Just send it to me and I will let you know

seriously though, buy from reputable people, get to know a local coin shop owner and ask him/her to test it for you as well.