How to know if a coin is gold or not.

[woody50]

I found a coin than has been described as silver or pale gold. Now I need to know how to know if the coin is really gold before I try to clean it. All the finds were found having a hard some sort of patina on them, removing it has been hard. I would like to know if its gold, but don't know if I want to take the coin to a jeweler because he would have to use a small swab of the material to test. The coin is a Tremissis from the year +/- 640, don't want to damage it any more than it is.

How to test for gold is my question.

 

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[CoinHELP!]

You can buy gold testing kits at ebay or online, but it would be worth taking the coin to a jeweler just to know if it's gold or not. It's still going to be a valuable coin, even if the gold test causes some damage, but they might know the exact weight and be experts on the coin, so they might just weigh it and give you a professional opinion.

 

[lazooro]

gold is gold...

 

[DigginThePast]

The safest method that I'm aware of is Specific Gravity. But since you say the coin is not clean then that may throw off test results.

Check out how to do the test here:
http://www.attilacoins.com/Calculate_Specific_Gravidity_coin.asp

 

[woody50]

The safest method that I'm aware of is Specific Gravity. But since you say the coin is not clean then that may throw off test results.

Check out how to do the test here:
http://www.attilacoins.com/Calculate_Specific_Gravidity_coin.asp

Hi "DigginThePast". Yes I know of that, but this coin weighs so darn little, its very tiny, I think what you say about not being clean would throw it way off. I have looked at how people test for gold on the internet and do understand how that works, but I do not want to do that, I do not want to damage the coin in any way. The specific gravity would work, but it would have to be clean first and be very accurate. But thanks a lot for mentioning it.

 

[Silver Searcher]

I take you are refering to your recent find, it's common for that type of coin to be pale Gold, it's just the Silver mix in the Gold, a soak in lemon juice will lift some of the crud off, but might take a long soak, if you need something a bit more heavier, Jenolite which you can buy of the net, check the strength of the mix and diolute if needed, I have used both these methods

SS

 

[woody50]

I take you are refering to your recent find, it's common for that type of coin to be pale Gold, it's just the Silver mix in the Gold, a soak in lemon juice will lift some of the crud off, but might take a long soak, if you need something a bit more heavier, Jenolite which you can buy of the net, check the strength of the mix and diolute if needed, I have used both these methods

SS

Well SS that's what I though also and will start soon to do just what you mention. A long time does not matter to me, I have all the time. I am pretty sure its pale gold, sometimes I see some yellow along with the silver. It has not tarnished at all either. Thanks. Will look for the Jenolite on the web....

 

[stefen]

I am of the opinion that all Tremissis are solid gold...

If it was mine, I'd have it professionally cleaned...and graded...

 

[woody50]

I am of the opinion that all Tremissis are solid gold...
If it was mine, I'd have it professionally cleaned...and graded...

Yes I think so too. I have read in the book "Charlemagne empire and society By Joanna Story" that because the gold coinage in that period became more and more debased on gold, and that the gold coinage was also struk in silver, see text.

I really don't know, it would have to be cleaned first before grading, and I always read that a coin is more valuable if its NOT cleaned. Than kind of holds me back...
Thanks for your comment.

 

[Silver Searcher]

I am of the opinion that all Tremissis are solid gold...

If it was mine, I'd have it professionally cleaned...and graded...

No they are not, a lot were debased, hence the different colours.

SS