Rings Versus Clicks: Why You Should Listen To Your Coins

PCGS_SocialMedia · July 28, 2021 11:52AM

One of the tools some dealers use to catch clad coinage (in their 90% silver counts) is aural resonance. Silver rings, while clad coins click. The resonance of the silver versus that of a clad coin going through a counter is distinctive to the machine being used. Not only do different silver denominations have a different ring, but 40% silver halves ring with a slightly different resonance. Clad coins click! The distinctive difference between the flat tone click of a clad coin versus the melodious ring of a silver coins is quite different. Silver coins ring!

To the trained ear, that distinctive difference in the resonance can be quite an asset to a dealer or collector. Clad coins that make a clicking sound are usually worth face value and carry no premium. Silver coins that ring generally carry a premium. Additionally, this resonance can be quite helpful when looking at a coin that is not clearly identifiable as far as the type of metal used. Generally, if a pre-1965 silver coin clicks, its authenticity is questionable.

Full article: https://www.pcgs.com/news/rings-versus-clicks-why-you-should-listen-to-your-coins

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panexpoguy · July 28, 2021 1:25PM

I can attest to this. Having a lovely MS 66 Morgan drop out of my hand after rinsing off from a dip and strike the tile floor of the bathroom was truly killing two birds with one stone. Not only did the sweet ring confirm the coin was genuine, it also rendered it a Details coin.

BuffaloIronTail · July 28, 2021 6:30PM

@panexpoguy said:
I can attest to this. Having a lovely MS 66 Morgan drop out of my hand after rinsing off from a dip and strike the tile floor of the bathroom was truly killing two birds with one stone. Not only did the sweet ring confirm the coin was genuine, it also rendered it a Details coin.

Sadly, your experience is rather tragic.

I hurt just hearing about it.

Pete

edgar · July 28, 2021 8:31PM

because I'm just a poor man, can anyone describe the sound that gold bullion coins make as compared to silver bullion? maybe post an mp3?

I've never heard the sound of gold, only slabs.

Jzyskowski1 · July 28, 2021 9:40PM

A wedding band will do and a Rolex is a little pricey to be dropping. A wedding “ring” maybe drop a quarter or a dime and then the ring I don’t know if I have what it takes to ask a coin shop or at a show to drop a gold coin. 😊

winesteven · July 28, 2021 10:06PM

I don’t know, maybe I’m going deaf in my old age. When I drop an MS66 Silver coin, it sounds the same as when I drop an MS66 Clad coin of the same denomination!!!!!

Steve

PerryHall · July 29, 2021 2:38AM

Old time cash registers had marble ledges for this very purpose. Counterfeit silver and gold coins were a common problem in the 1800's and were made of base metal that was plated. The merchant would drop the coin on the marble ledge of the cash register and listen for a ring or thud to check any suspicious looking coins.

ricko · July 29, 2021 5:53AM

Excellent question posed by @edgar... I have plenty of gold coins, but never 'dropped' one to hear the sound it makes. Nor will I be trying this experiment - I do not want to damage any of my coins.... If someone has a used/abused gold eagle, it would be interesting to know what sound a piece of gold makes when dropped. Cheers, RickO

winesteven · July 29, 2021 7:27PM

@winesteven said:
I don’t know, maybe I’m going deaf in my old age. When I drop an MS66 Silver coin, it sounds the same as when I drop an MS66 Clad coin of the same denomination!!!!!

I can’t believe no one got my joke shown above. If they’re “MS66”, that means they’re in slabs, hence not being able to hear the difference between silver and clad coins when they’re dropped. I guess it’s not funny, as I’m the only one laughing at my own joke, lol.

Coinscratch · July 29, 2021 7:49PM

I was just trying to figure out WHY you were dropping MS66 coins and thinking the more you drop them the more the grade drops.

DelawareDoons · July 29, 2021 8:11PM

Back when I roll searched, I would attempt to visually identify silver then clink the coins against one another in my hand VERY quickly (1 second or so) and I could pick out if I missed any silvers or if one had a planchet issue.

That's how I have several very underweight 1970's Kennedys. I also caught plenty of 40% that would have otherwise been missed.

ricko · July 30, 2021 5:57AM

Does no one have a well used gold coin to drop on a solid surface? Darn... Cheers, RickO

ElmerFusterpuck · July 30, 2021 6:06AM

That's how I've picked up silver from cash registers, I would hear a distinct ring when the coin was either dropped in or moved around in the tray. It's easier to hear with the larger silver coins.

PerryHall · July 30, 2021 6:13AM

Take a raw double eagle. Balance it on the tip of your finger while holding it very close to your ear and then tap the edge of the coin with the side of a wooden pencil. It will produce a very melodious ring. Obviously, this should be done over a well carpeted floor in case the coin falls.

Coinscratch · July 30, 2021 7:17AM

Was the Gong Show Bell melodious. My lil' Indians only go click click click.

Jzyskowski1 · July 30, 2021 8:26AM

@ricko said:
Does no one have a well used gold coin to drop on a solid surface? Darn... Cheers, RickO

Let me check the junk drawer. Let’s see platinum no platinum no here what’s this oh just palladium nope no gold anyone else?😂😂

Jzyskowski1 · July 30, 2021 8:37AM

I could try this one but it’s only 1/100th of an ounce 😂and wafer thin. Have a good friday

davidk · July 30, 2021 11:05AM

@edgar said:
because I'm just a poor man, can anyone describe the sound that gold bullion coins make as compared to silver bullion? maybe post an mp3?

I've never heard the sound of gold, only slabs.

It depends on the alloy/shape/size of the gold coin. To my ear 1oz AGEs ring louder than say a Canadian ML, but they both ring. To test the ring of a gold coin I hold it gently between my index finger and thumb, then flick the rim with my other hand while close to my ear. It takes a while to get the hang of it and better to practice on a beat up silver Morgan for example. I have a much more difficult time hearing gold coins smaller than 1oz ring at all, compare a Morgan dollar to a 90% silver dime to see what I mean. I assume the big difference is that your fingers are covering a larger percentage of the surface on a smaller coin, and thus your finger attenuates the vibration that causes the coin to ring.

For comparison, a solid tungsten blank about the same dimensions of a Canadian ML will not ring...at all. Just a dull thud like concrete.

I also make sure to do this over carpeting so that if the coin slips out of your fingers it doesn't fall on a hard surface.

These guys make a tool to test how a coin rings, but I just practiced a lot and use my hands: https://www.thefisch.com/whyitworks#ringer_principle

Elcontador · July 30, 2021 2:51PM

This is an excellent way to determine if a circulated, raw, Trade Dollar is real or not. I got one when visiting Vietnam in 1992. I was almost certain it was fake, but it was the best fake Trade Dollar I've ever seen. It fooled a number of dealers. The give away was dropping it on a hard surface and it had a thud, rather than the ring that one gets from doing this with a silver coin.

The guy who made this was very good. He could have passed it off as real, and who knows, it may have wound up slabbed, it if he spent a few dollars and produced it with .900 fine silver.

PerryHall · July 30, 2021 3:00PM

I read that counterfeiters making coins using base metals would add a small amount of fine sand so their coin would ring. Of course the quality of the ring wouldn't be as good as the ring from an authentic coin.

ifthevamzarockin · July 30, 2021 3:29PM

I recently found this magic coin because of the sound it makes, it's has no ring at all.

.
.
I have a gold & a silver coin and I recorded the sound both make but am unable to upload a wave file.
If someone can help I would be happy to send the file or try and follow directions.

Rings Versus Clicks: Why You Should Listen To Your Coins

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