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Which silver bar is fake??? Update bottom of first post!!

morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited August 23, 2020 6:35PM in Precious Metals

Normally I usually just post on the US coin forum, but since I bought about 172 ounces silver today I thought this would be something good to show here on the PM forum. One of these bars is a fake, which one is it, and can anyone here tell just by looking? All of the silver bars that I bought today were either 1oz, 5oz, or 10oz and luckily only one 1oz bar was fake. All of the other bars tested out on my Sigma Pro as good. Pictured is one good bar and the bad one.



Thanks for all of the guesses, I didn't really expect anyone to get this right or anything and just wanted to use it as a learning experience. The first bar is the fake and the second one is genuine and there are many differences between the two of them starting with the packaging. It also sounds different by using a drop test compared to the genuine bar. The pics below are the scans from the genuine bar and the fake bar. The fake bar has a reading that is significantly higher than the genuine bar.

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Comments

  • carlos6466carlos6466 Posts: 56 ✭✭

    The second one...

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  • taxmadtaxmad Posts: 971 ✭✭✭✭

    Agreed - wide letters that touch

  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    2nd !!! 👍

    Timbuk3
  • blitzdudeblitzdude Posts: 5,886 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very large amount of silver bars out there are fake and Silvertown is one of the most common. I wouldn't put too much stock into that sigma either, very, very easily fooled. Stick with 1oz coins and thank me later. Rgds

  • MeltdownMeltdown Posts: 8,774 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for sharing... always a good reminder to be watchful and interesting to see one compared to the other like this.

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  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,084 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Go to chinese style web sites---dhgate and alliexpress. These are legitimate web sites that are similar to eBay. Do a search on these sites for silver bars, silver rounds, gold bars, etc. eBay sellers get their counterfeits from sellers on these sites. You will get a good idea what to be on the lookout for when avoiding counterfeit bars and coins.

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  • DrBusterDrBuster Posts: 5,377 ✭✭✭✭✭

    2nd one is too chunky

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,267 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think the second one. It looks sloppy

  • derrybderryb Posts: 36,774 ✭✭✭✭✭

    love the Sigma, doesn't fool anyone who actually owns one and knows how to properly use it.

    "Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey

  • Downtown1974Downtown1974 Posts: 6,789 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Second one. Truth be told, if they weren’t pictured together I wouldn’t have second guessed it as a fake.

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  • KliaoKliao Posts: 5,557 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’m thinking the second one.

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  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I agree with the consensus.... Right away I thought the second one was fake, due to the fat letters....Cheers, RickO

  • rte592rte592 Posts: 1,656 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Second one.
    Now break it in half and let's see if the inside is brass or copper.

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,175 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The plastic on the first one looks different than I'm used to seeing... FWIW

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  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don't like the second one.

  • morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I will reveal the answer soon with more pics, thanks for all the guesses.

    Instagram: nomad_numismatics
  • isaiah58isaiah58 Posts: 385 ✭✭✭

    The first one is the fake. The prospector and mule on the second one have the definition I expect to see on their bars. The SIlvertown script is off on the first one and the LP on the front does not look correct. Also, the circle around the R does not look right on the first one.

    I am not familiar enough with their older products though to bet on my answer.

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll take what's behind door number three! Reading and learning from you all. Peace Roy

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  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 32,984 ✭✭✭✭✭

    top is fake

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  • taxmadtaxmad Posts: 971 ✭✭✭✭

    @MsMorrisine said:
    top is fake

    After reading isiah58's post and looking at the donkey, I now agree...

  • KliaoKliao Posts: 5,557 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @taxmad said:

    @MsMorrisine said:
    top is fake

    After reading isiah58's post and looking at the donkey, I now agree...

    Same here.... Ok now I'm confused. Never handled one of these before. I like to mostly stick to bullion made by governments.

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  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,754 ✭✭✭✭✭

    When I first looked at them I said "top bar is fake" and my reasoning was that the burro and minor were laughable in detail. Then I read all the posts and decided I must be wrong..............should have posted and gone against the grain, 'eh?

    bob :)

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  • rte592rte592 Posts: 1,656 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 24, 2020 4:18PM

    I picked the second bar because it looked like it was plated comparing the front pictures.
    I didn't bother to look at the reverse...
    Now as we have the answer, I dont like either one :o

    Also the first bar doesn't have the R trademark on the reverse.
    That's probably a sign right?

  • isaiah58isaiah58 Posts: 385 ✭✭✭

    I have no idea what the readings mean on the scanner. I have purchased rounds and bars from Silvertowne, directly when possible. Just like @AUandAG stated, my first impression was the first bar was fake. I had to look at some bars as their rounds have no detail, but the stamped image on them is very flat.

    I know this will make no sense: China allows decorative replicas of almost any bullion or coin, they just require one of several variances. It can be stamping COPY or something similar into the product. If can be using different font. Another example is the first Morgan Dollars they produced there. All of them were intentionally a combination of dates and mint marks that were not produced. Thus, anyone that looked the coin up would see it was not listed as being minted. Now they produce many of these bullion and coin decorative items like Rolexo knockoff watches. (on those the Rolex is centered, people remove the crystal and then remove the extra "o"). That means people that purchase them for pennies then become the scammer by altering them. Another reason I only purchase from my established list of LCSs and direct sellers.

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