So-Called Dollar Question

numisma · June 24, 2008 3:46AM

For the pros:

How can one determine if a SCD is gold-plated bronze or gilt? Specifically, HK-300 vs HK-304. Similarly, how can one determine if HK-344 (Jamestown) is actually silver-plated bronze? Are there published weights of the variations available?

tmot99 · June 24, 2008 4:02AM

Good question. The 300-304 series is really in question. People claim they can tell the difference, but I highly doubt they can do it at 100% accuracy. I'm not sure if NGC can or if they just put whatever designation on it that you do. On the Jamestown, I don't have any weights. So I can't help with that part. The obvious easy answer is on circulated pieces, you'd see the plating worn off with a bronze center.

On a related matter, as I rework the Eglit book on Columbiana, I am trying to provide accurate diameters (many are wrong in the original book), weights, and thicknesses. There are some issues with this, though. I've seen thicknesses at the rim vary greatly on some issues, primarily aluminum pieces. In the intro, I'll probably make some caveat that the measurements are approximate as variations in minting do occur. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get all weights and measures, but I gotta start somewhere.

Russ · June 24, 2008 4:10AM

I don't know about the HK-344, but the HK-346 weighs 16 grams.

Russ, NCNE

numisma · June 24, 2008 4:20AM

<< <i>I don't know about the HK-344, but the HK-346 weighs 16 grams.

Russ, NCNE >>

344 - silver
345 - silver-plated bronze
346 - bronze
347 - gilt

I have a 344 that weighs 18.6 gm, which is logical since silver is heavier than bronze. So the weight of 16 gm that you provided solves that little mystery. The 345 (silver-plated) would be 16 gm or slightly more, but clearly less than 18.6 gm. The gilt would also be approximately 16 gm. I am cataloging some SCDs as we speak and I will include the diameter and weight so that others will benefit from the information.

Thanks Tom and Russ......

jonathanb · June 24, 2008 4:53AM

There's a new book on US Mint medals recently published by Bill Swoger in which he argues that HK-300 and HK-304 are one and the same. Or so I've been told. I haven't received my copy yet, although it's on order.

numisma · June 24, 2008 5:24AM

<< <i>There's a new book on US Mint medals recently published by Bill Swoger in which he argues that HK-300 and HK-304 are one and the same. >>

That was were I was going with my original question. I have always defined "gilt" as something that is gold plated.

jonathanb · June 24, 2008 5:53AM

<< <i>That was were I was going with my original question. I have always defined "gilt" as something that is gold plated. >>

If I was going to give Hibler and Kappen the benefit of the doubt, I might be willing to believe that one of their listings was supposed to be for "gold-plated brass" and was was supposed to be for "gold-plated silver". Or some other combination of different substrates that had the gold applied later. It the sort of language issue where I could imagine that in the 1960s "everyone knew" that the term "gilt" was only applied to gold-plated silver, and if it was something else that was plated it couldn't be called gilt. That's just a guess, though, and I've found nothing to support it.

So-Called Dollar Question

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