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Going through a pile of none US coins.. All countries
Coin Finder
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Is there a good rule of thumb to differentiate silver from copper-nickel?
THanks!
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Coin Finder
Posts: 6,953 ✭✭✭✭✭
Coin Finder
Posts: 6,953 ✭✭✭✭✭
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Color is the only way I know as the two metals look nothing alike. Over time, you'll develop your "eye" for silver.
You can also drop it on a level hard surface... silver will ping/ring while copper-nickel will kinda thud
The Krause standard World Coins catalogs are your friend. And you can Google if you know enough search terms when in doubt. Sleepy Hollow aka ATS has a lot of precise metal-content info there.
Kind regards,
George
Drop the very worn circulated "junk." Probably not the best method for nice coins.
Magnet ... nobody mentioned the magnetic test? Silver is not magnetic
Quick reference for South African silver colour coins in general
Silver coins 1892 - 1897 (ZAR coins) = .925 Ag
Silver coins 1923 - 1950 (Union) = 80% Ag
Silver coins 1951 - 1960 (Union) = 50% Ag
Silver coins 1961 - 1964 (2nd Decimal - Rand and cent) = 50% Ag
Nickel Rands were only minted from 1977, any 1 Rand coin up to 1976 will be 80% Ag
Silver rands were also minted post 1977 and included in proof sets.
I did not verify this so bear in mind i might be slightly mistaken.
Appologies, as for the magnetic test ... missed the copper part ...
Neither is copper Nickel and most other metals one finds in large Foreign lots. Steel,Iron,and some Nickel + Nickel alloys are about the only coins that are magnetic.