🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Maybe silver?

[Dr Plugs]

This is a long shot, this item was found at a late 1700s site, it has sort of a diamond shape to it, concave on one side.

I put a dime beside it for comparison, it is heavy for its size. Came out of the ground tarnished, no rust. Looks like silver to me, maybe a decoration, or a scale weight? Not sure what other metal from that time frame would have this coloration and weight.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this?

 

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[robertk]

Kinda looks like lead. I don't know what it would be though.

 

[Dr Plugs]

Kinda looks like lead. I don't know what it would be though.

I thought it was lead when I dug it, but definitely not lead. Seems to be a harder metal. I actually stuck it in my pocket to keep ot separate and forgot it, my wife ran it through the washer and cleaned the dark patina off of it.

I actually mite have to remember the washer works so good, my wife can clean up my finds and not even know it! Lol.

 

[bottlecap4u]

what it ring up as? Possible fire damage, possibly it was affixed to something?

 

[pepperj]

This is a long shot, this item was found at a late 1700s site, it has sort of a diamond shape to it, concave on one side.

I put a dime beside it for comparison, it is heavy for its size. Came out of the ground tarnished, no rust. Looks like silver to me, maybe a decoration, or a scale weight? Not sure what other metal from that time frame would have this coloration and weight.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this?

Take a piece of tin foil, spit or some water wrap it up.
Should produce heat and smell like Sulphur.

 

[ModernMiner]

I was thinking slag, but I've never seen a piece in a formed shape.
MM

 

[AlabamaRelic]

It looks like lead.

 

[Joecoins]

Try to melt it? If tin / pewter it will melt on stove before lead. Cast it into a long ingot.
Try to bend it, it may cry like tin.

 

[Fugio]

I recommend you purchase a silver/gold acid test kit. Very cheap and eliminates speculation on these types of objects. I use it all the time to check dug items I suspect of being silver or gold. Keep in mind, you have to replace these acids every 8 months or so.

 

[robertk]

Keep in mind, you have to replace these acids every 8 months or so.

They do go bad, sometimes from day one. I had a kit I bought brand new that didn't work. I could put the silver acid directly on a piece of known silver and it still wouldn't react and change color.

 

[pepperj]

I recommend you purchase a silver/gold acid test kit. Very cheap and eliminates speculation on these types of objects. I use it all the time to check dug items I suspect of being silver or gold. Keep in mind, you have to replace these acids every 8 months or so.

They do go bad, sometimes from day one. I had a kit I bought brand new that didn't work. I could put the silver acid directly on a piece of known silver and it still wouldn't react and change color.

I ordered one of these sets up, then the auto-fill sent it to a debunked address from 19 yrs ago.
So I cancelled the 2 orders and was refunded minus $7-grumble.

Thanks for your input on this Robert-I had a testing kit from the early 90's, glass viles and it lasted for a decade or more.

I'm glad I didn't get the test kit now. Every 8 months-say what!

 

[ARC]

They do go bad, sometimes from day one. I had a kit I bought brand new that didn't work. I could put the silver acid directly on a piece of known silver and it still wouldn't react and change color.

IF its silver it WONT change color... heh
IF it just sits... its good.... This is in fact you have chosen a spot that has wear or you have filed it.

OTherwise you must use a rubbing stone and briskly draw a solid streak with item... apply 18k to the rub / streak... eats it... no good... other change dictates everything i need to know.

PS... the solutions dont go bad often.... it takes many many years most times.
In fact i cannot remember ever even having any go bad.
Of course i would replace when low anyway... which takes eons.
UNLess... you are buying crap El-cheapo solutions.

 

[ARC]

Edited

 

[robertk]

IF its silver it WONT change color... you must use a rubbing stone and briskly draw a solid streak with item

Well that's the problem. I tried both the scratch on the stone (several times, with varying size and intensity of the scratching), and directly on the silver. I tried known silver (coins and flatware) and unknown items. I tried bigger and smaller drops of acid. Nothing I did would get a reaction. The color chart that comes with it shows a whole range of colors to indicate the relative purity of the silver. It never changed color, at all, in any of the tests. I just assumed the acid was no good.

 

[Fugio]

PS... the solutions dont go bad often.... it takes many many years most times.
In fact i cannot remember ever even having any go bad.
Of course i would replace when low anyway... which takes eons.
UNLess... you are buying crap El-cheapo solutions.

I Should add that the 8 months I referenced above (for shelf life of solution) is from the manual that came with the JSP solution I just ordered. I am sure that is a very conservative estimate, but that is what it says. If stored properly, I have no doubt they could last longer.

 

[ARC]

Well that's the problem. I tried both the scratch on the stone (several times, with varying size and intensity of the scratching), and directly on the silver. I tried known silver (coins and flatware) and unknown items. I tried bigger and smaller drops of acid. Nothing I did would get a reaction. The color chart that comes with it shows a whole range of colors to indicate the relative purity of the silver. It never changed color, at all, in any of the tests. I just assumed the acid was no good.

Sounds like you were sold water. or some old arse stock.

 

[ARC]

I Should add that the 8 months I referenced above (for shelf life of solution) is from the manual that came with the JSP solution I just ordered. I am sure that is a very conservative estimate, but that is what it says. If stored properly, I have no doubt they could last longer.

Agreed.