Universaro One Platinum 1972: whats the story on this coin?

Gabes220

Hello Everyone,



I joined this forum to see if anyone knew about this coin that recently came into my possession. Can anyone provide details about this coin?











Keep it? Sell it? Clean it? Any pointers or advice is welcome.



Thank you all in advance.

AUandAG

I have never seen this piece. Platinum is a very hard metal and that damage

to the rim under the date, for a non circulating piece, would make me suspect

that it is even platinum. Have you tested and if so how?



bob

Gabes220

I too haven't ever heard of or seen this piece before. I know that Universaro does a one ounce silver piece but I've never seen anything regarding the platinum piece.



I haven't tested for platinum and would have no clue how to do that.

MilesWaits

I hope for you it turns out to be a valid metal. How did you find it? Who would you sell it to when it comes time?

Damn brave of you to buy.

CaptHenway

What are the dimensions, diameter and thickness?



Is it significantly smaller than a one ounce silver round? Because of the high density of platinum, it would be approximately half of the volume of an ounce of silver.

Gabes220

I hope so too. This item was willed to me after a family member passed. I guess i'd sell it for the right price to the right buyer, however I know NOTHING about this piece yet and can't find anything out online.

gtstang

Platinum has a "white" look to it. This does not and I would be very wary of it.

Gabes220

Originally posted by: CaptHenway

What are the dimensions, diameter and thickness?



Is it significantly smaller than a one ounce silver round? Because of the high density of platinum, it would be approximately half of the volume of an ounce of silver.

I'll take measurements today and post them up.

7Jaguars

Sure looks like silver to me. How would platinum "oxidize" (as it appears)??

Lettering style looks a bit like Pobjoy Mint products....

CaptHenway

Just found this:



http://usns.info/coin-universaro.html



Known struck in copper-nickel. Not known in platinum. Possibly a pattern for a platinum issue that never happened?

DrBuster

I found this



http://numismaclub.com/unt/462..._unit__dated_1973.html

MilesWaits

Originally posted by: DrBuster
I found this

http://numismaclub.com/unt/462..._unit__dated_1973.html

Well, that is uber intriguing.....

DrBuster

I had some silvers way back when, the fonts and shapes on it made me think real initially.

Gabes220

Diameter = 1.510"

Thickness= 0.11"



I weighed the coin on my digital powder scale and it read 16.48 Grams. What's the deal with that? It says 31.1 Grams on the face of the coin...





I want to believe this thing is real as DrBuster had posted, but for some reason I'm leaning counterfeit... Any advice on how to test its legitimacy?

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars

Sure looks like silver to me. How would platinum "oxidize" (as it appears)??



Lettering style looks a bit like Pobjoy Mint products....

I don't believe that it's oxidized. I think what you're seeing is literally dirt. It was found in the bottom of a sock drawer.

DrBuster

With those dimensions..junk

AUandAG

Cannot be the real deal with a weight like that. Sorry,





bob

Mistercoinman

I would waste the $50.00 or do, and send it to PCGS or Ngc. At the very least you will know.

MilesWaits

Originally posted by: MilesWaits

Originally posted by: DrBuster
I found this

http://numismaclub.com/unt/462..._unit__dated_1973.html

Well, that is uber intriguing.....

It appears the edges in this photo are heavily reeded or more florid than your rendition, correct?

CaptHenway

Originally posted by: Gabes220

Diameter = 1.510"

Thickness= 0.11"



I weighed the coin on my digital powder scale and it read 16.48 Grams. What's the deal with that? It says 31.1 Grams on the face of the coin...





I want to believe this thing is real as DrBuster had posted, but for some reason I'm leaning counterfeit... Any advice on how to test its legitimacy?

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars

Sure looks like silver to me. How would platinum "oxidize" (as it appears)??



Lettering style looks a bit like Pobjoy Mint products....

I don't believe that it's oxidized. I think what you're seeing is literally dirt. It was found in the bottom of a sock drawer.

Copper nickel is much less dense than platinum. If it were made up on platinum, with those dimensions, it would weigh the 31.1 grams. The dimensions and the weight prove it is not platinum.



Probably has some collector value as a pretty darn scarce pattern.



TD

kiyote

Thanks for posting, however it turns out. I love a good mystery!

7Jaguars

Still has the appearance of oxidation rather than "dirt" from the picturing. Platinum tends to discourage this by virtue of its Noble metal status and known properties as a reduction agent which would of course decrease its opposite oxidation.

ricko

Interesting.... seems by the weight alone, it is not platinum.... according to the one link, it was made in different metals...I would contact that source for further information. Cheers, RickO

gtstang

Platinum will have that bright white look and does not tarnish or oxidize. You could always put a torch to it and if melts in five seconds, you'll know for sure.

Pokermandude

Platinum will/should not discolor like that piece has. Platinum is very similar to the density of gold, so from its dimensions you should easily be able to figure out if it is platinum or a different, much less dense, metal.

asheland

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars
Sure looks like silver to me. How would platinum "oxidize" (as it appears)??

Lettering style looks a bit like Pobjoy Mint products....

Indeed it looks like silver. Platinum stays perfectly white always and is typically marked:
.9995 Platinum.

I fear that's not Platinum.

Gabes220

Took this piece to a coin shop and the guy instantly spotted it as a fake. I'm every curious what it's composed of... Oh well! Now it'll be a conversation piece for the coffee table!



Thank you everyone for your contribution. I am impressed with the helpful knowledge of everyone here.

Gabes220

Took this piece to a coin shop and the guy instantly spotted it as a fake. I'm every curious what it's composed of... Oh well! Now it'll be a conversation piece for the coffee table!



Thank you everyone for your contribution. I am impressed with the helpful knowledge of everyone here.

Gabes220

Took this piece to a coin shop and the guy instantly spotted it as a fake. I'm every curious what it's composed of... Oh well! Now it'll be a conversation piece for the coffee table!



Thank you everyone for your contribution. I am impressed with the helpful knowledge of everyone here.

DCW

Well, it clearly isnt platinum. That being said, I wouldn't trust the guy in a coin shop to instantly give you advice on anything. Unless you know his background and he's able to speak of such esoteric pieces with any degree of confidence. A fake would probably be made to deceive someone of a known issue. A platinum issue is unknown.
As others have stated, it may well be a pattern of some type.

CaptHenway

Originally posted by: DCW

Well, it clearly isnt platinum. That being said, I wouldn't trust the guy in a coin shop to instantly give you advice on anything. Unless you know his background and he's able to speak of such esoteric pieces with any degree of confidence. A fake would probably be made to deceive someone of a known issue. A platinum issue is unknown.

As others have stated, it may well be a pattern of some type.

Indeed. He may have said "fake" because it wasn't what it claimed to be on its face, an ounce of platinum. I had never heard of the patterns before you started this thread and I looked it up, and I doubt if he bother to look it up before making his judgement.

idratherbgardening

If anyone has one of these, I’d be interested in buying it. Sounds like it’s not platinum but it’d be a neat piece to own along with the regular silver ones. Please send me a message. Thanks.

Smudge

Isn't plat normally .995?

donjalu

Hello All,
I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I am totally impressed with the knowledge base here and hope to learn a great deal and give some, too.
The Universaro saga is interesting for me as I like unique coins. I have one 1972 and one 1973 Platinum Universaros.

1972 Platinum Universaro
Round is stamped with .999 fine platinum and is not reeded (or only slightly reeded). It is hard to imagine Robert Graybar would produce a platinum piece that was not authentic. The person I bought it from says his wife was a hippie back in the day and could have crossed paths with him or his friends.

1972: Diameter: 38.28mm
Color: Dull Grey
Weight: 30.5884 gms
Smooth edge or very slight reeding upon inspection.
Planchet thickness: (N,E,S,W) 2.72mm, 2.67mm, 2.58mm, 2.62mm

It was first scanned in July 2014 by a coin shop in AZ.
Pt. = 98.92 %
Se = 0.50
Ni = 0.58
A second scan was conducted on the same coin April, 2018 also in AZ. (bench XRF machines)
Pt. = 99.98 %
Au = -0.67
Ni = 0.59
Cu = -0.07
Zn = 0.04
Ag = 0.17
Pd = -0.04

1973: Diameter: 39.08mm
Color: shinny- silver-like
Weight: unknown to me.
Reeded edge
Planchet thickness: 1.13mm

It was first scanned in July 2014 by a coin shop in AZ.
Pt. = 99.25 %
Cu = 0.50
Ni = 0.26
A second scan was conducted on the same coin April, 2018 also in AZ. (bench XRF machines)
Pt. = 100.30 %
Au = -0.56
Ni = 0.26
Cu = -0.07
Zn = -0.02
Ag = -0.02
Pd = 0.10
Hope this helps.

Hemispherical

Welcome @donjalu to the forums!

Recommend you start your own thread so that the reponses will be focused on your question.

OP is over two years old.

https://coinweek.com/bullion-report/iran-executes-sultan-of-coins-for-hoarding-gold-coins/

CaptHenway

Fascinating!

ricko

@donjalu ....Welcome aboard.... Interesting information to add to this old thread... do you have any pictures?? Cheers, RickO

Timbuk3

Interesting old thread !!!

donjalu

Here are pictures. Sorry for lack of detail, but I will get better.
I have many questions.

idratherbgardening

@donjalu Are either of these platinum pieces for sale?

jmlanzaf

@idratherbgardening said:
@donjalu Are either of these platinum pieces for sale?

You're trying to buy from a year old post????

donjalu

I am contemplating whether to divest these platinum Universaros from my collection.

mbpett

I have one of the 1972 platinum Universaros and a pawn shop told me it was a fake. I'm skeptical since every other test has come back "positive". Has anyone found out any other information on these coins?

Morgan White

horseyride

Ha. Took me a while to figure out the reference, but well done Sir

ChrisH821

@mbpett said:
I have one of the 1972 platinum Universaros and a pawn shop told me it was a fake. I'm skeptical since every other test has come back "positive". Has anyone found out any other information on these coins?

You might have better luck in the world coins forum. Take some clear pictures and post them.