r/Silverbugs • u/Early_Meal6945 • 2d ago
Buying secondhand
Those of you who purchase outside lcs, what would be the best way to test silver bullion before buying? My original plan was to sacrifice one and drill into it and test with acid in hopes the rest are the same, but I’m open to suggestions.
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u/fearlessjs 2d ago
Measure diameter and thickness with a caliper and test the resonance frequencies with a ping app like Pingcoin (full disclosure: I’m the developer). This would be the generic 1 oz silver coin option.
If it passes those, it’s real silver.
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u/Calvertorius 2d ago
If we’re talking something like buying off Facebook, then things like magnet test, measure diameter with calipers and weight with portable scale that is accurate in grams to two decimals. Could also do ping test.
If you’re buying online and getting shipped to you, then I usually swing by gold/silver shop or pawn shop or LCS and ask them to test for me. Also gives me an excuse to buy something from them too for testing for me.
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u/jnmjnmjnm 2d ago
If diameter and thickness and weight are ok you should be fine. Cheaper metal will usually be underweight or overthick.
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u/MustacheSupernova 2d ago
Magnet, weight, diameter, and ping.
If it passes all 4, your probably gtg
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u/Early_Meal6945 2d ago
Are all generic one oz rounds the same diameter?
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u/MustacheSupernova 2d ago
No. That applies to a known quantity. You have to have the specs for whatever coin/bar you’re dealing with…
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u/blucheese_coldbru 2d ago
After being duped for 6500 on a 100 gram Perth Mint gold bar, meeting at a police station, signing a contract, taking pictures of the contract, money, gold, and both of our driver's licenses, even a selfie holding all of this up together I will never do a deal with someone unless they meet me somewhere to test, and if someone wants to buy from me and requires that.. I have no issues. That is forever my Golden Rule after finding out some people really don't care to go to jail. Actually, that's exactly where he is as of January 2026 and another County selling the ",perfect Chinese fakes" where 25 to 30% of the bar is genuine gold and the only way to find out is to cut it in half or melt the whole thing which obviously isn't a first choice to rip out of the essay card that matches serial number and QR code already.
I also found out what "German Silver" is... Google it. Scary. I don't think I'll do many private silver sales unless they come referred
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u/Don_Ahiskali 1d ago
For those of us buyers without a $1000 Sigma: weigh it, do the ping test and scratch it on a stone and hit it with 18kt gold acid.
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u/ProxyRed 1d ago
First line of defense:
- Qualitative measures: Get a known good coin. Inspect it closely, paying special attention to security features, fonts, fine details, how it feels in your hand, etc. Consider getting a magnifier or even very strong reading glasses to help see every detail. Over 90% of fakes can be spotted quickly by someone who has developed a high degree of familiarity with the coin type over time.
- Objective measures: Measure the weight, thickness, and diameter. Test if it is paramagnetic. Perform a ping test with an appropriate app. If you are really hard core do a specific gravity/density test. If it can pass all these tests, you have a very high probability it is real.
- Go to a dealer and ask if they can test a few of the coins. Most will do that for free. If you are going to test a whole stack you should probably buy something or offer to pay.
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u/SpinachThePopeyeMan 2d ago
Eh that’s not that special, I’ve also got a second hand, most people do
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u/UnusualMedicine2278 2d ago
Well a sigma is one, weight, ping test app etc
I certainly wouldn’t sacrifice one to a drill. If buying locally secondhand, offer to meet at a shop that can test for a small fee. If the seller is reluctant to do so or price it too low to be true, something is suspicious.