Perth amboy .833 D bullion???? Is it silver, lead, alloy, or white gold...????

Bgonleif

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Nov 6, 2017
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I came across this while looking through some rocks by water way close to my house in Northern California and I'm not sure what it is. I've taken it to a coin shop they try to tell me it was lead I've done as much research as I can online and cannot find any article or reference to let ever being marked with .83 3 the only things I have found are bullying but I'm not quite sure what I'm looking at whether it's a long-lost relic or just a fake can somebody possibly point me in the right direction if not give me some insight on how to possibly sell such aemmense piece of art and history. It weighs an incredible 58.8 lbs
 

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Spitballing here but I'd venture lead billet smelted Aug 1933 in Perth Amboy
 

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Don got it. American Smelting also made babbit in different grades for bearings.
The American Smelting And Refinery Co. of Perth Amboy, New Jersey was in the business of refining lead and other metals.
The company may still be active today.
Don........
 

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I understand what it could be but as I said I've been doing quite a bit of research on late 1800 early 1900 pig and billits. As far as I can find there's nothing that I found to be stamped with 833 that would be a 60lbs block and if so why would it be stamped with the company name. Most lead pigs, billits, or solder blocks would be pretty basic when it comes to makers marks. I'm not trying to reach here I'm just going on what I have been able to find online. As for the perth Amboy mint there were a lead producer as well as silver and gold dore and smelter for the miners who couldn't refine on there own. I live in mt. Shasta and this is where the northern end of the gold rush was. That's the main reason I'd even be considering it might be of any value. Also I have a lead bar and there are no identifying marks on it
 

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Just use an acid test or calculate the density through water displacement.
 

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I don't know what kind of metal you have there but I wouldn't read too much into the company name being on the bar. It's not "stamped with the company name". The mold it was created in had the company name (in reverse) cast into the mold. Anything molten poured into the mold and allowed to cool would have the company name on it.

As for the "833" and the "D" I don't know. I suppose it could be a dore bar, but I'm still leaning towards lead based on the pics.

To get a definitive answer to your question regarding the type of metal you have, please refer to the post above mine.
 

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What are the dimensions of the bar?
How soft is the metal? Can you easily cut it with a knife?
 

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There appears to be the number "5" below the R and the T in the Perth Amboy picture on the side of the bar. Are there any other markings on it?
 

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So I specific gravity tested it it comes to 11.1. now lead is 11.3 and silver is 10.48 so I'm guessing it's a lead silver solder and it's 20k then. I've tried to find anything about babbits with 833 not any alloys that are marked 833 and the s.g. doesn't match up any alloy or other metals.... Now what to do? How do I go about getting it certified so that I'm not just some crazy with "a bar of lead".....the difference is about $17,500.... And how do I sell it
 

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It seems that you are in doubt of exactly what it is, even though it may just be a lead based bar.
To get a test that takes all of less than 30 seconds or less, just find a larger recycler (scrap metal).
Not the Ma & Pa operation, but the actual broker where the smaller feeder yards go to.
Even a local smelter of precious metals.
Anyone of them will have a XRF Analyzer (or similar type)
The non evasive test will tell you exactly every element that the bar is made up of and it will then give you peace of mind.
(After having 10's thousands of items tested it's the only reliable way of doing it)
There's a lot of different alloys in a bar.
Lead/babbitt bars-Have a read.
https://www.belmontmetals.com/products/alloys/lead-based-alloys/
 

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So I specific gravity tested it it comes to 11.1. now lead is 11.3 and silver is 10.48 so I'm guessing it's a lead silver solder and it's 20k then. I've tried to find anything about babbits with 833 not any alloys that are marked 833 and the s.g. doesn't match up any alloy or other metals.... Now what to do? How do I go about getting it certified so that I'm not just some crazy with "a bar of lead".....the difference is about $17,500.... And how do I sell it

From buying and selling metals for decades I have seen a lot of alloys. I dealt in only precious/semi/non-ferrous.

Just to give you an example:

You walk through the door-you tell me you have what "you believe" you have.

I would ask you the following. What is it, proof, and still I wouldn't entirely believe you.

Not that you are a lier-it's just speculation-pure and simple.

It goes the same for me when I went to one of my brokers-it looks like a bar of X-we pay you for lead-put the analyzer on it-it's XX-they pay for that-if was XXX-it got sent to the refiner-I got the upgrade later.
(just to give you an idea of where I am coming from sales to any one of them was $X million in sales a year)

My personal option is that you have a bar of X.

Your specific gravity test is in my experience doesn't hold much water. Just from experience it's just a general test, and it very well put you in the ball park, but it doesn't give you a home run.

Just get it tested-simple-easy-100% accurate.

Looks like a duck-quacks like a duck-until you get a genetic test you don't know exactly what that strange looking duck is.

My credentials: School of hard knocks
Meaning I have believed something was something-and then was told different-net result-I ate lunch on the believing it was something that wasn't in the end.
 

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I love what a moto you have to say. I'm a firm believer and don't believe anything until you can test it and tell us the truth yourself that is literally the only way that I have made it this far in my life with little to no help and the gutter willingness to learn and admit that I can be wrong as with anything being is what a value this could be I am taking my patience time and intent to very good consideration as well as making sure I got the right X's sign and the right eyes dotted. So I do believe you are 100% correct with getting it tested for where I live though I am unable to acquire such services without them already prejudging that I'm out to make a buck without caring about what it is. And to be straight honest I feel quite judged by character prior to even discussing such a unique item. If anyone happens to know of somewhere I could either a have it assayed or b have it xrf. and if any way possible for it to be somewhere in the vicinity of Northern California Oregon Washington Colorado Nevada would be well well well appreciated
 

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I know it was already suggested but just call any of the scrap yards nearest you and ask them if they have an XRF analyzer. Tell them you’ve got some material you’d like scanned to possibly scrap.
The yards here will hold the analyzer to your material and the analyzer prints out a paper right there in front of you telling you the percentage of elements in it and are accurate to a tenth of a percent. The yards here don’t even charge for the service.
 

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I love what a moto you have to say. I'm a firm believer and don't believe anything until you can test it and tell us the truth yourself that is literally the only way that I have made it this far in my life with little to no help and the gutter willingness to learn and admit that I can be wrong as with anything being is what a value this could be I am taking my patience time and intent to very good consideration as well as making sure I got the right X's sign and the right eyes dotted. So I do believe you are 100% correct with getting it tested for where I live though I am unable to acquire such services without them already prejudging that I'm out to make a buck without caring about what it is. And to be straight honest I feel quite judged by character prior to even discussing such a unique item. If anyone happens to know of somewhere I could either a have it assayed or b have it xrf. and if any way possible for it to be somewhere in the vicinity of Northern California Oregon Washington Colorado Nevada would be well well well appreciated

If your reply is directed at me well I am sorry that you feel personly slighted. It's not you personally-don't get me wrong please.
We find something, or even buy and we truly believe it could be something of value. (Most times it's not)

In your last two lines you have asked for help in finding a place to do a test, in 5 different States. There is probably 100's if not a thousand or more.
So your question is not a very good one.
Just Google for own area, there's probably many that will provide the service that you are seeking.

Then again there has been little effort in trying to actually finding one.

You did state "I've been doing quite a bit of research on late 1800 early 1900 pig and billits."

So you have the ability to find a scrap yard with a analyzer in your own vicinity.

I have read too many times where somebody is trying to make leather from a sow's ear.
 

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Looks like gold to me. Maybe over layed with platinum. It can be anything you want until you get it actually tested. Then it will be mostly lead.
 

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