Post a gold coin with bite marks in it!

philographer · July 29, 2012 2:01PM

For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there!

Buzzybest · July 29, 2012 2:08PM

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

That's really funny,but you're absolutely right! However,I only have 2 raw gold coins,one a $20 gold 1861 Liberty. And you are totally crazy if you
think that I am going to go take a bite into it,and then post a picture of it(which I can't anyway because I'm still picture posting disabled).

lkeigwin · July 29, 2012 2:20PM

Bite marks can clearly be seen on the upper reverse.
Lance.

astrorat · July 29, 2012 2:20PM

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

Unfortunately that is a common misinterpretation of why people reportedly "bit" gold coins. The test was not for gold, but for lead or other base metals that were relatively soft as compared with gold.

astrorat · July 29, 2012 2:21PM

<< Bite marks can clearly be seen on the upper reverse.
Lance.

>>

Cheater!

I thought those were railroad tracks!

stealer · July 29, 2012 2:25PM

What are those, baby teeth?

lkeigwin · July 29, 2012 2:52PM

Nope. Those are adult bite marks.

For years collectors thought this was a die variety. But the truth is a disgruntled Mint employee chomped on 1809 CBH's because he was peeved about losing his union-guaranteed cost of living adjustment.
Lance.

edited to say Sorry realone...I had a couple of single malts tonight.

Buzzybest · July 29, 2012 2:56PM

<< 

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

Unfortunately that is a common misinterpretation of why people reportedly "bit" gold coins. The test was not for gold, but for lead or other base metals that were relatively soft as compared with gold. >>

Astrorat is wrong again! As a kid when my father was a high school chemistry teacher,he showed me real gold (a very soft metal) versus iron pyrite,which looked very much like gold. The pyrite would break your teeth if you tried to bite into it,while gold will not.

astrorat · July 29, 2012 3:11PM

<< 

<< 

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

Unfortunately that is a common misinterpretation of why people reportedly "bit" gold coins. The test was not for gold, but for lead or other base metals that were relatively soft as compared with gold. >>

Astrorat is wrong again! As a kid when my father was a high school chemistry teacher,he showed me real gold (a very soft metal) versus iron pyrite,which looked very much like gold. The pyrite would break your teeth if you tried to bite into it,while gold will not. >>

I thought I was on permanent ignore! Silly, silly, silly. Go bite a gold American Eagle ... then get back to us. You really should ask for that refund.

messydesk · July 29, 2012 3:19PM

Send me a gold buffalo and I'll show you a gold coin with bite marks in it.

Buzzybest · July 29, 2012 3:27PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

Unfortunately that is a common misinterpretation of why people reportedly "bit" gold coins. The test was not for gold, but for lead or other base metals that were relatively soft as compared with gold. >>

Astrorat is wrong again! As a kid when my father was a high school chemistry teacher,he showed me real gold (a very soft metal) versus iron pyrite,which looked very much like gold. The pyrite would break your teeth if you tried to bite into it,while gold will not. >>

I thought I was on permanent ignore! Silly, silly, silly. Go bite a gold American Eagle ... then get back to us. You really should ask for that refund.

>>

UP YOURS FOR INSULTING POSTING!!!

Buzzybest · July 29, 2012 3:28PM

With a personal email to Don Willis!

Buzzybest · July 29, 2012 3:31PM

I'm requesting that Astrorat be permanently banned from this forum for the above postings.

Tdec1000 · July 29, 2012 9:44PM

<< I'm requesting that Astrorat be permanently banned from this forum for the above postings. >>

Really? Grow up. People don't want to read your arguments. That's what PM's are for.

amwldcoin · July 29, 2012 10:09PM

While I don't have a picture...I have a funny story!

I was 13 or 14 and had a California fractional gold piece. I had a friend who just had to have it! I think he traded me 5 silver dollars for it. I hand him the coin and the 1st thing he did was bite it and bend/dent the crap out of it! LOL

habaraca · July 30, 2012 1:41AM

Huge Bite: although not gold

astrorat · July 30, 2012 1:47AM

<< Huge Bite: although not gold

>>

That was an INCREDIBLE eBay find! Somebody really did well.

mrpaseo · July 30, 2012 2:03AM

<< 

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

Unfortunately that is a common misinterpretation of why people reportedly "bit" gold coins. The test was not for gold, but for lead or other base metals that were relatively soft as compared with gold. >>

My research tells me that this is an accurate statement. Gold, though soft, is much denser than most metals. If teeth marks are left in the Gold, then most likely it is not gold... This holds true for most coins as most are laced with at least copper to make it more durable. Now, if you bite pure gold, you will probably leave a mark.

What did we do before the internet was born? Effectively, we have become stupider as we do not need to remember anything, yet more powerful smart because all the info is at our finger tips.

Ray

mrpaseo · July 30, 2012 2:03AM

This is the guy that I have check my gold:

lordmarcovan · July 30, 2012 11:56AM

I would imagine there might be some really thin hammered gold medievals out there with bite marks, but I can't recall ever seeing any.

Buzzybest · July 30, 2012 11:59AM

If you do a search on metalurgy and densities,you will see the comparisons between gold and other metals like iron. Trust me,you would not want to bite into Fools Gold,otherwise known as Iron Pyrite.

OnlyGoldIsMoney · July 30, 2012 12:04PM

A coin I once owned - Heritage pictures.

What I believe are bite marks can be seen below the date and under STATES on the reverse.

Buzzybest · July 30, 2012 12:06PM

<< Here's Eric's King World News page (I can't capture "transparent") - I'd bet that that girl can identify her medal!

Olympic Au (KWN) >>

Excellent article! Although Embry focus's mainly on gold mines,silver mines are also experiencing similar producer cost squeezes. Hence,my decision on Friday to buy double bullish silver options on Friday,which I posted earlier.

PerryHall · July 30, 2012 10:47PM

Actually 900 fine gold alloyed with copper is fairly hard. Lead was frequently used to make contemporary circulating counterfeit gold coins which were then gold plated and then spent with the local merchant. Lead is much softer than alloyed gold and the bite test would expose such a counterfeit coin. In most cases a bite mark on a coin will be indistinguishable from a contact mark.

ambro51 · July 30, 2012 11:53PM

I think what we refer to as a rim nick may be teeth marks. Stands to reason as this is about the easiest way to hold and then bite a coin. The raised rim would show the bite. Youd need to see identical nicks opposing each other. I'll tell you, in my woodworking I buy a lot of mahogany. To judge the hardness of the wood, I bite it. Sounds crude but it's surprising how effective it is. I guess if you bite one gold coin the memory of it serves well as a counterfeit detector.

lordmarcovan · July 31, 2012 12:15PM

That '52-O quarter eagle is as convincing a "bite mark" as I've seen. Somebody would have to have chomped down pretty hard, I guess. I mean, I know gold's a soft metal and all, but it IS a metal, and when alloyed, it should be relatively tooth-resistant, I would think? Unless somebody had some pretty strong teeth. I'm a denture wearer now, but even if I had my real teeth back, the thought of biting a coin (sanitary considerations aside) is not all that appealing.

ProofArtworkonCircs · July 31, 2012 1:01PM

<<Astrorat is wrong again! As a kid when my father was a high school chemistry teacher,he showed me real gold (a very soft metal) versus iron pyrite,which looked very much like gold. The pyrite would break your teeth if you tried to bite into it,while gold will not. >>

A gold coin is harder than pure gold. Anybody have any counterfeits made from iron pyrite?

johnny9434 · August 1, 2012 5:33AM

<< Huge Bite: although not gold

>>

ouch, someone tried to take a chunk out of that one

Billet7 · August 1, 2012 7:26AM

<< 

<< 

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

Unfortunately that is a common misinterpretation of why people reportedly "bit" gold coins. The test was not for gold, but for lead or other base metals that were relatively soft as compared with gold. >>

Astrorat is wrong again! As a kid when my father was a high school chemistry teacher,he showed me real gold (a very soft metal) versus iron pyrite,which looked very much like gold. The pyrite would break your teeth if you tried to bite into it,while gold will not. >>

What kind of idiot would bite into iron pyrite? you might as well chomp down on a railroad spike!

From what I understand, those that were adept at biting gold could tell many things including the things mentioned. They could tell if it was filled with a base metal, made of the wrong material (either too soft or too hard) and for those who were very skilled even the approximate purity the gold was, since pure gold is softer than the alloys. Is that why medal winners in the Olympics bite their medals? I dunno.

I disagree, Iron Pyrite does not really look that much like gold, completely different color (course they both are in the gold-ish range) unless the gold was filled with impurities. It only looks like gold when sifting through a pile of debris or from a distance. IMHO. Anyone who knows gold or pyrite would spot the difference in an instant. Chalcopyrite on the other hand can easily be mistaken for gold. Copper-iron Sulfide vs. Iron Sulfide.

steveben · August 1, 2012 7:41AM

this isn't my coin...but check out the reverse on this one...bite marks?

Link to ebay Coin

Buzzybest · August 1, 2012 8:25AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< For eons, people have been testing if gold is gold by biting it! Post a picture of a gold coin with tooth marks in it! There must be one out there! >>

Unfortunately that is a common misinterpretation of why people reportedly "bit" gold coins. The test was not for gold, but for lead or other base metals that were relatively soft as compared with gold. >>

Astrorat is wrong again! As a kid when my father was a high school chemistry teacher,he showed me real gold (a very soft metal) versus iron pyrite,which looked very much like gold. The pyrite would break your teeth if you tried to bite into it,while gold will not. >>

What kind of idiot would bite into iron pyrite? you might as well chomp down on a railroad spike!

From what I understand, those that were adept at biting gold could tell many things including the things mentioned. They could tell if it was filled with a base metal, made of the wrong material (either too soft or too hard) and for those who were very skilled even the approximate purity the gold was, since pure gold is softer than the alloys. Is that why medal winners in the Olympics bite their medals? I dunno.

I disagree, Iron Pyrite does not really look that much like gold, completely different color (course they both are in the gold-ish range) unless the gold was filled with impurities. It only looks like gold when sifting through a pile of debris or from a distance. IMHO. Anyone who knows gold or pyrite would spot the difference in an instant. Chalcopyrite on the other hand can easily be mistaken for gold. Copper-iron Sulfide vs. Iron Sulfide. >>

Right!

Post a gold coin with bite marks in it!

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