It's Not Always What You Think It Is

[villival]

I am posting this as a way of saying thank you for all your help over the years and to offer some bit of knowledge gleaned from this experience!

I found the above bar of metal, weighing 4.4 oz in 2013. I have carried it with me for years, over many moves and changes.

I assumed it was lead, as it is very heavy and has oxidation. I knew silver didn't oxidize like that, nor did gold or platinum. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to Thursday and a bench hearing over a property dispute bought on by our ignorant, evil neighbors. Though we won in the sense we got our land,
we had to pay a $7,000.00 judgement, essentially for the purchase of a half acre of land.

The injustices heaped on by these neighbors over the years is criminal, literally and though I was grateful to be done with them, I nevertheless complained a bit
to God it was unfair in light of all they had put us through that we had to pay anything.

I didn't sleep well, but when I awoke the next morning something told me to pull that bar of metal out again. I tested and retested it.

Platinum.

It is now at the jeweler's and I am waiting on an estimate to purchase from them.

I read a few articles about platinum oxidation which convinced me to test the bar. Anyway, here's to educating oneself; Ancient Metal Artifacts

Currently, platinum is about 950.00 a troy ounce. The gods are good sometimes.

 

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[E-Trac-Ohio]

Good luck with the sale !

 

[Limitool]

View attachment 2189295

I am posting this as a way of saying thank you for all your help over the years and to offer some bit of knowledge gleaned from this experience!

I found the above bar of metal, weighing 4.4 oz in 2013. I have carried it with me for years, over many moves and changes.

I assumed it was lead, as it is very heavy and has oxidation. I knew silver didn't oxidize like that, nor did gold or platinum. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to Thursday and a bench hearing over a property dispute bought on by our ignorant, evil neighbors. Though we won in the sense we got our land,
we had to pay a $7,000.00 judgement, essentially for the purchase of a half acre of land.

The injustices heaped on by these neighbors over the years is criminal, literally and though I was grateful to be done with them, I nevertheless complained a bit
to God it was unfair in light of all they had put us through that we had to pay anything.

I didn't sleep well, but when I awoke the next morning something told me to pull that bar of metal out again. I tested and retested it.

Platinum.

It is now at the jeweler's and I am waiting on an estimate to purchase from them.

I read a few articles about platinum oxidation which convinced me to test the bar. Anyway, here's to educating oneself; Ancient Metal Artifacts

Currently, platinum is about 950.00 a troy ounce. The gods are good sometimes.

Wow... I hope all plays out in your favor concerning your bar of metal. That's a big hunk of the 7 grand...!!!!!

 

[Surf_Pirate]

View attachment 2189295

I am posting this as a way of saying thank you for all your help over the years and to offer some bit of knowledge gleaned from this experience!

I found the above bar of metal, weighing 4.4 oz in 2013. I have carried it with me for years, over many moves and changes.

I assumed it was lead, as it is very heavy and has oxidation. I knew silver didn't oxidize like that, nor did gold or platinum. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to Thursday and a bench hearing over a property dispute bought on by our ignorant, evil neighbors. Though we won in the sense we got our land,
we had to pay a $7,000.00 judgement, essentially for the purchase of a half acre of land.

The injustices heaped on by these neighbors over the years is criminal, literally and though I was grateful to be done with them, I nevertheless complained a bit
to God it was unfair in light of all they had put us through that we had to pay anything.

I didn't sleep well, but when I awoke the next morning something told me to pull that bar of metal out again. I tested and retested it.

Platinum.

It is now at the jeweler's and I am waiting on an estimate to purchase from them.

I read a few articles about platinum oxidation which convinced me to test the bar. Anyway, here's to educating oneself; Ancient Metal Artifacts

Currently, platinum is about 950.00 a troy ounce. The gods are good sometimes.

cool story

 

[Trezurehunter]

A nice story, although disheartening. Good Karma came your way in the form of that platinum bar. It sounds like everything will turn out ok in the end.

 

[sprailroad]

Oh no...How much platinum Have I tossed over the years.?

 

[Timbermaster]

I’d be interested to hear you or anyone’s theory on the origin of that bar. Found in Louisiana? What a great story too.

 

[Gare]

Nice going and good luck on there offer. Please let us know when and what they do GOOD LUCK !!!

 

[villival]

Thank you!

I am VERY interested in hearing what anyone would have to say regarding it's origin. Is this something people did back whenever?

Has anyone ever seen another platininum bar like it? Doesn't it look homemade?

I don't know. Any theories?

I live abput 60 miles north of New Orleans and there are a ton of river and creek systems used for human transport back in the day. Don't know where it came from.

Here's a kicker. There was another piece of it. I must have struck it with my shovel when I dug it. I had that other piece for a long time. I have no idea where it is now.

 

[oldmxrat]

Good luck on the sale!

 

[jewelerguy]

very interesting, especially since Louisiana isn't known to be a place where platinum is found. Sorry about your neighbors, I've got some pretty crummy neighbors too but sounds like yours are worse.

 

[villival]

No one has seen a bar of precious metal like this? I can't be the first.

It looks to me like someone used it as cash, in the sense they would just cut off a chunk when they needed payment for something.

We had quite a bit of civil and Battle of New Orleans stuff down here, so perhaps it was part of some military loot.

Would "regular" people know how to fashion the metal into a bar like that? It tested really pure, as there was no dissolution of the line when the acid was put on it and the jeweler knew right away what it was. Her eyes never left it. She whisked it right off and she and another gentleman tested it.

Platinum was known as a precious metal as far back as Louis the 16th I believe. But, it's relatively new in recognition compared to silver and gold.

Anyway, no ideas or no one has seen a similar type thing?

 

[Heavygold4me]

Very interesting, I’ll be watching for updates.

 

[villival]

I'll let you know as soon as I hear back from the jeweler.

 

[Tcar]

Man that’s awesome ! Good luck ! The bar has crazy markings and there’s probably more where that was found !! Good luck !

 

[xr7ator]

Looks like the same metal that is used for counterweights in old windows.