Do your silver bars have lead in them? Learn how to use Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
u/altrukombullion — 5 days ago
u/altrukombullion
▲ 0 r/LibertadCoins
FAKE GOLD BUSTED! 1/10oz Gold Krugerrands vs Sigma Metalytics Investor
Hey everyone,
We put together a quick testing video putting two 1/10 oz Gold Krugerrands head-to-head—one 100% genuine 22k (.9167 fine) coin, and one counterfeit.
We ran both through the Sigma Metalytics Investor to check both electromagnetic resistivity and physical dimension/density parameters.
💡 Quick Takeaways from the Test:
Visuals: At 1/10 oz, fakes can easily fool casual buyers. Up close, the fake has an overly brassy finish and slightly soft details, but to the naked eye, it’s tricky.
Resistivity Readout: The genuine Krugerrand landed right in the green bracket for 22k gold, while the counterfeit completely blew past the scale into the red.
Density/Size Check: The fake also failed the dynamic line test on screen, proving why double-checking dimensions against resistivity is crucial when verifying gold.
Check out the clip above to see the live readouts on the screen!
What’s your go-to method for testing secondary market fractionals? Have you run across many fake 1/10 oz coins in the wild lately?
Brought to you by Altrukom Bullion / Bullion Bundle™. (For anyone building their stack, we're currently running $20 off + free shipping for new customers at checkout).
u/altrukombullion — 6 days ago
Clad is engineered to fool conductivity tests. Shows how to use the Sigma's density analysis to see the difference.
I put together a quick demo on the Sigma Metalytics Verifier comparing a 1964 90% Silver Kennedy Half Dollar against a 2023 Clad Half Dollar.
A common misconception is that clad coins will immediately throw a "red" fail on the basic verifier screen. However, copper-nickel clad was specifically engineered in 1965 to match the electrical resistivity of 90% silver so vending machines and coin sorters wouldn't reject them.
Key Takeaways from the Test:
Resistivity Mode: Both the 1964 silver and 2023 clad fall into the green brackets.
Dimension / Density Mode: Switching the Sigma to measure diameter and thickness immediately exposes the clad coin because the physical dimensions don't match the expected weight/density profile.
Never rely on conductivity alone to test coins—always pair it with weight and dimension checks.
How do you guys test your junk silver? Do you rely on a Sigma, specific gravity tests, or classic calipers and a scale?
u/altrukombullion — 9 days ago