The rationale for biting a coin was the supposed widespread dissemination of gold plated lead coins in the 19th century. Since lead is much softer than gold, biting the coins is a sensible test for counterfeiting.
Many people are curious to know why in the old days it was common to bite gold coins – or other kinds of items made of gold – to confirm whether or not they were real. This practical and crude method was used for the authentication of gold since this metal is very malleable.
Gold is a relatively soft metal, and consequently gold coins that are made of pure gold or a high percentage of gold, can be relatively soft and malleable. Therefore, biting the coin would leave a mark or an indent if it was real gold.
Step 1: Bite Down On It
If it's real gold, your teeth will form small dents in the metal. Fake gold won't dent at all on a bite test! Now, before you chip a tooth, remember that gold is a soft metal so there's no need to bite down very hard.
Because of the density of Gold with 19.32 g/ml, it is heavier than other metals. So, if you wish to check the purity of a gold coin, simply put it in water. If it is made of pure gold, the coin will hover over the button or completely sink, whereas, in the case of any other metal, the coin will simply float.
The best way to protect your gold coins or bars is to not handle them unless it's necessary, but sometimes you might want or need to. Gold is delicate, so to prevent your bullion from being damaged by a hard surface when handling it, place it on a clean towel or cloth on a flat surface.
While buying a gold coin, you should look for the BIS Hallmark written on the gold coin. This stamp indicates that the gold is of the highest purity by fineness or karats with no added metals. The standard purity in karats includes 8KT, 9KT, 10KT, 14KT, 18KT, 21KT, 22KT, and 24KT.
The 'ping' test, as this is commonly known, allows us to tell if a coin is made from real or fake gold by listening to the sound it makes when struck. Precious metals will make a long, high-pitched ringing sound when struck as opposed to base metals, whose respective sounds will be duller and much shorter.
Take a cup or glass, fill it up with water, now bring the gold that you want to test. Drop it into this filled glass. If the gold floats, it is surely not real but if the gold sinks to the end of the glass then it is pure gold. The real gold will sink due to being a heavy metal.
The reasons behind gold's enduring value include: Gold is perceived as a symbol of wealth, power, and majesty. Gold has had an exalted position throughout the ages as a highly coveted, even worshipped material. Gold has been used over millennia as jewelry and a means of exchange.
In their pure forms, gold and silver happen to be very soft metals—soft enough that you should be able to mark them with your teeth. According to the Mohs hardness scale—which relates pairs of materials according to which one will scratch the other first—gold scores a 2.5 and silver, which is harder, a 2.7.
Gold is a very soft metal, so scratching it with a hard object like ceramic will leave a golden or a yellowish streak. On the other hand, fake gold is often made of metals that are darker in color, so you'll see a dark streak instead.
The rationale for biting a coin was the supposed widespread dissemination of gold plated lead coins in the 19th century. Since lead is much softer than gold, biting the coins is a sensible test for counterfeiting.
Gold gift as a symbol of love, wealth, and prosperity
That's why traditional Diwali gifts include gold jewelry, coins, and bars, which are believed to make the recipient's new year more prosperous and successful.
The current value of a 1 oz Gold American Eagle coin (which contains 31.104 grams of pure gold) is between $1800-$2100 , while the value of one ounce of pure gold is currently around $1960. These values change constantly, and we can offer a real-time quote via our online chat (below) or by calling us at 1-800-781-2090.
If your gold piece turns black or green when the vinegar is on it, or if it starts to smoke or fizzle at all when the vinegar touches it, it is most likely not real gold. If your gold piece does not change colors and does not fizzle or react to the vinegar in any way, it is probably real.
Heat your gold jewelry with the lighter.
Apply the flame to the jewelry for about a minute or 60 seconds. Watch it closely for any changes in color. Fake gold will get darker, while pure gold will do the opposite: it will get brighter the hotter it gets.
Nitric Acid Test
To perform the nitric acid test, rub your gold item on a black stone to leave a visible mark, then apply the nitric acid to the mark. Nitric acid will dissolve any base metals that aren't gold, a real gold mark will remain.
Each Australian Gold Coin is struck in 99.99% pure gold and individually packaged in hard plastic capsules at the Perth Mint.
Gold is not magnetic. Pure gold (e.g. a bullion bar) is not magnetic.
Among the purest are the four-nines and five-nines gold coins, which often carry numerical hallmarks declaring these purities, such as . 9999 and . 99999, respectively. The four-nines and five-nines gold coins are an extremely popular choice with gold investors and precious-metals speculators due to their high purity.