Detecting Counterfeit Gold Coins Based on Density

One of the major determinants of the value of gold coins is their gold content. The authenticity of the coins based on whether or not they are minted by a supposed manufacturer or institution is usually just a secondary factor. Often of more significance is the exactness of the coin’s metal content, which translates to having the right amount and purity of gold. Assessing the value of coins based on their appearance is commonplace in everyday dealings, but is not a real measure of value.

Compared to virtually every other metal, gold has a greater density, so faking any metalwork that contains gold is highly difficult. Given that their base metal is less dense than gold, it is easy enough to tell whether gold coins are fake based on their weight and volume. If they contain too much base metal, or are not made of gold entirely, they will be lighter than their supposed weight even if they are in the right size. Using the same principle, making fake coins meet standard gold coin weights by using too much base metal would also increase their size.

As mentioned, only a few metals have the same or higher density as gold. Platinum is one of these denser metals. However, in most contexts, platinum is more expensive than gold, so making a counterfeit gold coin out of platinum is out of the question.

In comparison, tungsten is less costly and has the same density as gold. For a number of reasons, however, making an alloy out of the two metals is impossible. It is possible, though, to cover a tungsten center with gold coating. In this case, determining whether the gold coin is counterfeit takes more than just density measurement. And so, getting certified gold coins only from trusted sources is best to prevent buying counterfeits, which can be particularly hard to detect especially by budding numismatists.

Resource Box:

Gainesville Coins is a premier online source for silver and gold coins that include collections predating 1933. Its state-of-the-start website is considered to be among the most user-friendly on the Internet today, making coin shopping a delightful experience for both numismatists and investors. Visit http://www.gainesvillecoins.com to view its wide array of coins and bullions, or call 352-653-3009 for inquiries.

Jeff Paul is a writer and copy editor who likes to share information on many different topics.

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