Is this silver

[MAZZA]

Hi im new here...just been having a sort out and came across a nurse buckle? ?and wondered if anyone could help me....it looks like silver and the back is stamped FPNS any ideas?

 

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[Monty]

I've been told that there was once a kit you could buy that had some chemicals you could use to determine if an artifact was precious metal, but I haven't been able to find anyone who sells one now. I read an article on the net that said you could use nitric acid to test it but didn't say just how or what you would be looking for. I have a "nugget" I think is silver and short of having it assayed can't find out.

 

[rck_1]

First Presbeterian Nursing School - New Canaan, CT
Freemont Parents nursery school - Fremont, CA
First Parish Nursery School - Norwell, MA

The possibilitys are endless, Does appear to be silver though.

 

[MAZZA]

Thank you both for your replies.....will have to delve a bit deeper now
Thanks

 

[rck_1]

Mazza,
What city / state did you find this?

 

[omnicognic]

Sorry, I'm no help on this one! was it tarnished when you found it? does a magnet stick to it? These answers could help! Anyway, what a great find! Welcome to the forum, we look forward to your future posts! 8)

 

[treasure_lady]

Beautiful buckle and welcome to the forum! Good luck with your search!

 

[lab rat]

Was it tarnished when you found it? How did you clean it? Most silver objects have a stamp like '.925' or 'sterling', though I have found some with no marks or (rarely) other marks '.980'. The easiest non-destructive way to test it is to do a density test. (Find out how to do this under a previous post -- search for 'density test' in the search box under your 'user info'.) Silver has a density of 10.5-- heavier than iron, zinc, copper, bronze, or brass, lighter than lead.

You can also test it with a small amount of dilute sodium sulfide solution, which turns silver and lead black on contact. You can figure out the difference by rubbing the metal lightly on a piece of white paper. Lead will mark the paper with a light gray streak when you rub it, and silver shouldn't do that.