Any reliable way to discern a silver medal from one that is "silvered white metal?" UPDATE
DCW
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The back story: I noticed a Joseph Merriam storecard on eBay with Daniel Webster on the obverse. It is a scarce token like all of Merriam's work, but if struck in silver it is RARE. Perhaps unique. Well, it had bad pictures which made it difficult to discern whether it was copper, white metal, silver, etc. 
The seller simply listed that it was struck in "MEDAL." I saw some color even in the poor photos, and it seemed to have "pull away toning" so I inquired with the seller, and he informed me it was indeed silver. I was doubtful, but I thought I would take a chance and make an offer anyway. The seller turned out to be a jerk, but whatever. I obtained the medal in the end, and it is drop dead gorgeous, loaded with deep colors and pull away toning, especially on the obverse.
It looks silver to me, but I know silvered white metal can produce similar effects. Does anyone know I reliable way to discern between the two compositions?
Obviously, I could weigh it and compare it to a white metal example.
I do own an example in tin, and I plan on liberating this example from its stupid ANACS slab tonight.
Just wondering if anyone has further thoughts.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
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Comments
A magnet might work not on copper or brass or aluminum. Maybe on pot metal or white medal..
after removing it from slab, inspect the edge for abraded areas where the silver rubbed away. Recently had a similar experience (someone silvered a bronze medal and it was presented as a silver version). Glad I caught the subterfuge.
"White metal" as it is sometimes referred to, was called "tin" by Merriam. Tin does not have significant measurable magnetic attraction, so the refrigerator magnet is probably not a reliable method.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Having the weights of other examples in bronze and white metal would help.
What metals is it known in?
I'd guess it's silvered bronze or white metal. I have never seen a silvered white metal medal.
Not that that means anything.
Some complex mathematical equations will then be in order. Makes my head hurt.
Good luck.
My first recommendation would be to weigh it, but you seem to have planned that already.
You could also try the ring test. Balance it on a pencil and tap it with something. Compare the sound between your known white metal specimen and a silver coin. My guess is that the white metal doesn't ring much (like a Zincoln) compared to the silver.
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Hot water.... Dip half in hot water and hold it there. If undipped half heats quickly, and as quickly the heat dissipates after removing ; voila. It's likely silver.
If it retains heat, well.... it still looks great, but it's probably not silver.
I don't know of any other (maybe or maybe not smart ) test to use, without scraping or filing. And we all know what that can do to an original piece.
Nevermind the previous statement. You'd have to crack it out.
It will be cracked out tonight. Im not crazy about dipping it in hot water. I will weigh it and report back. I dont think it is silvered bronze, but there are plenty of silvered tin medals out there (also with pull away toning like this.)
This one is just richly and naturally toned which to me suggests it was struck in silver.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
It looks like there is post mint pock on Webster's cheek and perhaps some rubbing as well. Looking in that area with a strong glass might tell you something.
And yes I have seen a few white metal pieces that had been silvered. I believe that the 1893 Grover Cleveland inaugural medals which were attached to a ribbon where made that way. I was the under bidder on one before I bought the piece in my collection is has a brownish color. I would have preferred to have owened the first one, but was out bid.
Most reliable method is specific gravity.
Silver is silver, whether it is a solid homogenous composition throughout an object, or just surface plating. Your comment above is indicative of your lack of intelligent reasoning.
CaptHenway nailed it.
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densities kg/cubic meter
copper 8930
gold 19320
iron 7850
lead 11340
nickel 8800
nickel silver 8400 - 8900
platinum 21400
silver 10490
tin 7280
Specific gravity will equal density of metal divided by density of water 1000 kg/m3
SG Gold = 19320/1000= 19.32
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I've seen this listed before and also could not tell much from the sellers images.
Weighing it with a scale is one way or just cracking it and palm weighing while wearing a white cotton glove.
If you don't want to crack it out try the following visual inspection below.
On the sellers photos the rub on the high spots made it look like it was silvered white metal.
Now onto your far more detailed photos...
There seems to be rim damage on the reverse at 6 o'clock and some rim cuts.
Grab a loupe and look at these areas.
The silvering would be disturbed in those areas.
The base white metal below would not have toned,
Silver would have.
If you really want to acquire some respect here, then finish your point with some conviction, instead of just blathering. If you believe pull-away toning occurs on something other than silver, then state what your contention might be and prove your case. Otherwise, merely unfounded innuendo.
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if you are going to crack it, ring test it
Take it to a jewelry store that has an metals anylizing machine. They will probably do it for free or a small fee.
Pull away toning can occur on other types of metal. I have seen some pretty nice copper medals that display this effect.
@coinsarefun might want to post her copper Smoker token with awesome pull away toning.
@coindeuce I would appreciate it if you would not be rude to other posters on my thread, and then talk about respect. Your first comment was condescending and unwarranted.
I am looking for discussion, and everyone us welcome to add to the conversation.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
This is silvered white metal.
@MsMorrisine Will be cracking it tonight. The ANACS slab means nothing to me.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
@Broadstruck Your medal has a similar look to mine. Well, I'm hoping for the best! I mostly bought the damned thing out of curiosity. I needed to examine it in hand, and numismatics itself needed to be apprised of my findings!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I just did the same bought a token offered with soft images... Gotta see it in hand.
@afford You're welcome to post the Bolen medal if you'd like?
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
This.
The good Captain nailed it. Very easy to do at home and requires only a scale, a cup of H2O, and a string. The math is middle-school simple. A simple search here will yield the procedure.
@Staircoins
Found this link and may or may not use this specific gravity test. Think there is anything adverse about dropping the medal in water?
http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/specific_gravity.htm
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
If you have a friend who has a metal detector a pass over the coin will tell you. Silver rings high in tones and most machines have both tone and display info.
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I would concur on specific gravity testing. The coin would need to be cracked out. I might suggest a X Ray spectrometer Analyzer. They are in use at some bullion shops for detecting metal content. 5% margin or error usually. My coin dealer has one. It may still need to be cracked out however. Anacs may have one of these and you could resubmit with that request in mind, then they could re-holder it...
Here's another example of toning on a silvered-white metal planchet, showing the pull-away effect:
Well, since we don't get many white metal, pull away toning threads, I may as well post one.
Interesting discussion.... I look forward to the final determination... Cheers, RickO
Here is my tin example:
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I have liberated my suspected silver specimen, and the results are intriguing. My known white metal token weighs significantly less, at 12.38g
The suspected silver checked in at 15.61g.
I have the density of tin and silver at 7.31g/cm3 and 10.5/cm3 respectively. Both my tokens are exactly the same size. Could the answer be as simple as subtracting the difference in density (3.19g) and comparing it to the difference in weight (3.23) If so, it would seem within tolerance levels to say that this is a silver struck token. Or is that a coincidence that the numbers are almost identical?
How much weight could silvering add to a token?
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Congrats as I think it's pretty safe to say you have silver.
Think about it for a moment...
The silvering is just a thin coating which no way would add 3.23g.
That's like 1/4 of the whole WM weight.
Have you considered that the thickness of the planchets might differ? That would affect your calculation. Others may be able to speak to the consistency of weight between medals of the same metal issued by Merriam. I don't believe that silver plating would add up to the difference between the two medals that you're observing here.
Looking at the rim, I would say that it was silver over white metal. On the right side of the cropped photo below, it looks like flaking. I'm not sure if silvered white metal pieces deteriorate this way, but that's what it appears to be.
The rims also show some damage, which I associate more with white metal, because it is a very soft metal.
The two medals are of the same thickness. I will have to examine the rims, but I didnt notice any flaking. Could be just a nick that is appearing differently in photos. But if there is a loss of metal, it would only increase the difference in weight between the two.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Silver (10.5) is 1.43+ times as dense as Tin (7.31). If the volumes were exactly the same and the tin one weighs 12.38 grams, then a pure silver one should weigh 17.70 grams. A sterling silver or coin silver one would weigh slightly less, roughly 17.4 or 17.32 grams respectively.
Your visual estimate that they are the same size may be a bit off. Specific gravity would give you a true answer. That said, it would appear to be silver based upon your observations.
TD
DCW - If you are cracking out the token, all you have to do is flip it as you would when flipping a coin in "heads or tails". Of course you need to take careful measures to be sure you will not damage the coin, but a silver token/coin will make a very audible ring the moment your thumb flips it. On the other hand a pot metal coin will make a thud sound. Seriously, this works.
This also works when flipping copper Lincoln cents (pre 1982) versus flipping zinc cents (post 1982). The copper will make a nice ring whereas the zincoln will make a thud.
Here are some more pictures. Exactly the same size.
No flaking, either. Just a nick like I thought.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
what are the different known metal compositions for this medal?
Shenkman listed the Webster with Merriam storecard reverse in tin, copper, and brass, but he noted that he had never seen an example in tin nor brass...
He also listed a Webster with "I still live" reverse wreath in SILVER.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Specific gravity of both.
Did you ring test it?
Havent ring tested it yet. Leaning towards dipping it in water to perform specific gravity test, but I have cold feet. Any adverse effects on doing that?
I could also send it off to NGC as they could test it before slabbing, but they hit you over the head, $75
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Any thoughts?
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."