How to Tell If a Silver Coin Is Real

The biggest fear for any new coin buyer is simple: "What if it's fake?"

It is a reasonable fear. Counterfeits exist. But the good news is that 90% Silver U.S. coins are notoriously difficult to fake convincingly, and the bad fakes are easy to spot if you know what to look for.

You don't need a $1,000 X-ray machine. You just need a magnet, a keen eye, and gravity.

Test 1: The Magnet Test (The "First Line of Defense")

Silver is diamagnetic. This means it is not magnetic. In fact, it slightly repels a magnetic field. Most cheap counterfeits are made of steel or iron.

How to do it:

1. Get a strong rare-earth magnet (a fridge magnet is usually too weak, but can work for steel fakes).
2. Hold the coin at a 45-degree angle.
3. Touch the magnet to it.

** The Result:**

• FAKE: If it sticks hard, it is steel/iron. It is 100% fake.
• REAL (Likely): If the magnet slides down the face of the coin slowly (with some resistance but no sticking), that is the "diamagnetic effect" of silver.

Note: Be careful. Copper and lead are also non-magnetic, so this test alone doesn't prove it's silver, but it filters out the cheap junk.

Test 2: The "Ping" Test (The Sound of Money)

Silver has a unique resonant frequency. When struck, it rings like a high-pitched bell and holds the note. Base metals (copper, nickel, zinc) go "thud" or have a very short, flat ring.

How to do it:

1. Balance the coin on the tip of your finger.
2. Take another coin (or a pen) and gently tap the edge.

The Result:

• REAL: You will hear a long, high-pitched riiiing that lasts for 1-3 seconds.
• FAKE: You will hear a tink or clack that dies immediately.
• Tip: 90% silver sounds slightly different than .999 fine silver, but both ring distinctively.

Test 3: The Edge Test (The "Sandwich" Check)

For Dimes, Quarters, and Halves (but not Nickels or Pennies), the edge tells the story.

How to do it:

1. Turn the coin on its side.
2. Look at the reeded edge.

The Result:

• FAKE (or Modern Clad): If you see a stripe of copper (orange/brown) running through the middle, it is a modern copper-nickel clad coin. It is not silver.
• REAL: The edge should be solid silver-white or grey. There should be no copper stripe.

Test 4: The Weight (The Specific Gravity)

Counterfeiters have a physics problem. Silver is dense. Lead is dense, but soft. Steel is light. It is very hard to make a fake coin the exact correct size AND the exact correct weight. Usually, a fake is either:

• Correct weight, but too thick/wide.
• Correct size, but too light.

A simple digital pocket scale (that measures to 0.01g) costs about $15 online.

• Silver Quarter: 6.25 grams
• Silver Dime: 2.50 grams
• Silver Half: 12.50 grams (Allow for slight weight loss due to wear on circulated coins).

Summary

Should you be paranoid? No. Should you be prepared? Yes. Buying 90% Junk Silver is safer than buying generic bars because faking a worn, 1954 quarter is expensive and difficult. But knowing these tests gives you the confidence to buy without worry.

Buy with Confidence: Every single coin at SalarsNet is verified before it ships. Shop our Verified Inventory.