Does a corroded silver coin still retain a "ringing sound"?

NumisOxide

Anyone know? Or have one to test for me? Thanks.

Unknown

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Timbuk3

It should, the metal content didn't change.

LanceNewmanOCC

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doesn't seem too different to me when i drop one that is corroded or not, just as embarrassing when done in a quiet coin shop
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pcgs69

Not sure what this one is classified as, but I assure you there is no ring left to it. I don't have it in front of me, but I think most of its problem is it's about half the weight or less.

coindeuce

A high percent silver coin should ring in the E note note regardless of condition, as long as there is no foreign matter adhering to the surface or filling voids in the structure. Certainly a 10% silver Mexican peso will sound different than a 90% silver U.S. dollar too.

Listen here. (Requires current version of Adobe Flash Player)

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>Not sure what this one is classified as, but I assure you there is no ring left to it. I don't have it in front of me, but I think most of its problem is it's about half the weight or less. >>


that is one rough merc! i would say break that stuff off and drop it to see if it rings but i think it is neater just like it is
.

NumisOxide

The reason I ask is I recently picked up a neat 1853 Seated half dollar which seems to be an old conterfeit or it might be real. It has some corrosion, seller dug a few coins up. I bought it because it also is cut almost in half, possibly to make change. I'll try to post it tonight or tomorrow to get some opinions on it. He thought it was made of white metal. It doesn't ring like a silver coin thats why I'm asking.

PerryHall

Bottom line is a silver coin with a planchet defect such as a void or crack will not ring the same as a coin struck on a perfect planchet. Minor corrosion should have a minor effect on the ringing quality while major corrosion may prevent the coin from ringing at all.

MrHalfDime

Rather than dropping the coin on the floor or throwing it against the wall, all of which seems a bit crude, simply conduct a specific gravity test on the coin. Even though the coin has apparently been cut in half, and is only a fraction of a full coin, the specific gravity would not have changed, and should provide a valid determination as to its authenticity.

"doesn't seem too different to me when i drop one that is corroded or not, just as embarrassing when done in a quiet coin shop"

Great line!

daOnlyBG

Yeah... about the ring test...

"Many an old-time coin collector (or coin dealer) will use the 'ring' test to determine if a coin is silver. Not only is this a negative test, it will also cause damage to the coin, since the test involves dropping the coin on a hard surface. This is a negative test, because the slightest fissure or internal crack in the coin will make it sound like a lead washer. Weighing the coin will tell you as much, or more, about the coin, and weighing is a non-destructive test. To prevent damage to your coins, don’t let someone else 'ring' your coins, ever."

http://www.numismaster.com/ta/inside_numis.jsp?page=how-to-handle-clean-coins

From my experience (as limited as it is) it's true. About 3 months ago, I set up an experiment with my friends- all 5 of them having studied music in college (the point: their ears are well trained). Using 3 pre-1965 dimes and 3 post-2000 (circulated) dimes, they couldn't differentiate the difference in sound. In fact, 64% of the time, they thought the "non-silver" coins sounded "brighter." I'm willing to bet that there's a mental bias in people's minds to "seek out" a brighter sound in an alleged silver coin, after they've seen the coin's date (and thus, suppose it is made of silver). Put the hanker chief over their eyes, though, and don't let them hold the coin in their hand- the "ring" test isn't as good as it's made to be.

Just my two cents. I am not trying to criticize anyone's coin collecting skills.

MrHalfDime

I certainly cannot disagree with anything that daOnlyBG said, but in this case simply weighing the coin will not suffice. The OP has stated that the coin has been cut approximately in half, perhaps as a means to make change, so there is no way to know precisely how much of the coin remains, or, for that matter, how much circulation wear it received either before or after being halved. Therefore, any simple measurement of mass would be inconclusive in determining its authenticity, which is what the OP would like to determine. That is why I suggested conducting a specific gravity test on the portion of the coin. It makes no difference how much or how little of a piece of the coin you use to conduct a specific gravity test. This would seem to be one of the only practical tests to determine if the piece is a counterfeit. I am assuming that the OP does not have access to an electron microscope.

NumisOxide

<< <i> I am assuming that the OP does not have access to an electron microscope. >>


You assume correctly MrHalfDime.

Will post a few pics of the coin in question later today. I have to take some.

coindeuce

I've been able to identify/qualify or DQ certain suspect items with the help of another nearby dealer, who owns a hand held portable mass spectrometer. Quick, easy and involves minimal invasive exposure of the surface of an object. Technology may advance rapidly enough for this tool to bring the price of it to a more affordable range than the $40,000 that it currently has.