Any ideas how to determine whether a coin is copper or brass?...

[Iron Patch]

Without hurting it.

I have a token that is only known to exist in copper, but I have one that sounds and registers well below what it should and I'm thinking it could be brass.

For any Explorer users the copper version hits on digital at 28, this one comes in at 6! I played around comparing targets and the perfect match for screen reading and sound turned out to be a cast brass button. I am fairly confident it has to be a metal other than copper but I have to find out for sure.

A quick follow up question...

Do you think a coin could be chemically altered to have a drastically different sound? ... and that's keeping the condition of being very readable on both sides and not really corroded. That's the only other explanation possible for this to be copper.

 

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[Don in SJ]

Sure sounds like brass, the only way I know of telling for sure, other than your detector readings and "sound" test is a Specific Gravity test.

If you have a scale that weighs in grams or grains, you could most likely perform the test and know for sure.

Let me know if you are cabable of trying it, if so I will look up how I do it. I only did it twice before last month. It is a sure fire way of telling Electrotypes and other counterfeits from real coins/tokens.

Don

 

[Iron Patch]

Sure sounds like brass, the only way I know of telling for sure, other than your detector readings and "sound" test is a Specific Gravity test.

If you have a scale that weighs in grams or grains, you could most likely perform the test and know for sure.

Let me know if you are cabable of trying it, if so I will look up how I do it. I only did it twice before last month. It is a sure fire way of telling Electrotypes and other counterfeits from real coins/tokens.

Don

Don, been looking into some technology metal recyclers are using, it may be a quick and easy way.

 

[Don in SJ]

Would not surprise me that there are easier methods out there thanks to recycling business. I think the one problem in IDing metal is when it is plated, without scratching hard to say what is underneath. S.G. does an excellent job of exposing electrotypes.

Sent you an e-mail on scales.

Don