I was on the phone with MrEureka and came up with an interesting thought/query about using nano-tech

oreville

I was discussing with MrEureka about compositions of various coins and patterns.

This query came up.

Can nanotechnology be used to drill on a microscopic level (without damaging the coin itself) to determine what is inside a coin when sem-x testing cannot absolutely verify what is on the inside core of a coin?

MrEureka seems to feel that eventually this will be a reality but probably not yet. I wonder if we have yet reached this intriguing possibility at the academic level.

Have any of Universities have progressed any of their research to this level? I had heard that the University of Pennsylvania was considered to be very well known in this area.

We have some posters who are involved in academia. Perhaps they can be of some help?

Any ideas and thoughts?

edited for typos, arrrgggh!

BigE

I am sure it is possible with todays technology to drill a microscopic or almost invisible hole into the surface of a coin, and cover the tracks to the point it could not be seen with the naked eye or even with a 10 X glass. I would definitely not be detectable by a grader. The deal is though, I bet very few have access to the equipment. Anyone know how the process by which NGC gets the metal for the analysis they offer?--------------------------BigE

oreville

The second question is will using nano-technology to "procure" the metals on the "inside" of a coin generate enough material to properly determine what the stuff is made of?