Articles from May 25, 2026

How Coin Auctioneers Spot Fakes Before Sale

How Coin Auctioneers Spot Fakes Before Sale

Coin forgeries and altered coins are entering the market. For the good of buyer and seller alike it is important that these are detected before the sale. This article outlines the steps a coin specialist takes in order to verify a coin before it is put up for auction.

Weight and Diameter Checks

All coins were minted to precise specifications and these are well recorded in reference works for most issuers. By weighing a coin and checking its diameter against published parameters for comparable coins the first potential indicators of a fake can be quickly identified. Note that even a difference of 0.5 grams can be significant enough to prompt further investigation.

Surface Examination Under Raking Light

Investigation under raking light can also reveal tooling, artificial wear and re-engraved high points to enhance grade. Circulation wear on genuine coins is uniform on the high points of the coin, uneven surfaces are suspect and show fine scratches running in the wrong direction.

Loupe and Microscope Work

A good 10x loupe can often detect signs of casting around the edge of a coin as well as a very rough surface with a granular texture of sand from a sand cast coin. Often a microscope is required to determine if a coin is real or not. Under magnification the die impressions can be compared to known die cracks and the exact punch alignment.

Metal Composition Testing

X-ray fluorescence analysis, or XRF, is a non-destructive test that determines a coin’s alloy composition. A silver denarius that tests as modern base metal, for example, is not a denarius, regardless of how it may have been refinished to resemble one.

Edge Inspection

Cast fakes will typically have a seam where the two halves of the cast have joined. Some altered dates will also have tool marks near the date figures. Running your thumbnail lightly around the edge of a coin can sometimes reveal raised lines or other marks that look perfectly normal when viewed from the front but are apparent when running your thumbnail around the edge of the coin.

Provenance and Die-Pairing Records

The coin can be matched to a recorded die pair or it has a published history of previous sales through auction catalogues. A coin that appears on the market for sale with no history of previous sales through auction catalogues and no published parallels is suspicious, regardless of appearance.

Understanding these checks will help you ask the right questions when buying a coin or having one consigned for sale.

Are Expired Medications Dangerous?

Most people have found old medication sitting in a drawer and wondered whether it’s still safe to use. In many cases, expired medicines become weaker over time rather than dangerous, but that does not mean they should automatically be ignored. Some treatments can become unreliable after their expiration date, especially when they are used for serious health conditions.

Read More

Top nickel facts that you might not know

Nickel is a fairly common metal, but that makes it relatively easy to take for granted. If you only know about its most popular uses, you may not realise the full extent of its importance in a range of fields.

It can survive extremely high temperatures

On its own, nickel does not melt until 1,455°C, or 2,651°F. Superalloys incorporating nickel remain strong and resilient at 1,000°C, or 1,832°F, making them ideal for turbine blades in aeroplane engines.

It plays a vital role in plant growth

Traditionally considered a toxic metal, it has since been discovered that nickel helps plants produce the enzyme urease, which they use to process and recycle nitrogen.

You can find it at the bottom of the sea

Bacteria that live in hydrothermal vents deep at the bottom of the sea have their own enzymes full of nickel that they use to help create methane gas.

Nickel compounds come in many colours

When nickel is combined with other elements, it does not just change or enhance its properties. It can take on different colours, including yellow nickel bromide, blue nickel sulphate or green nickel chloride.

Nickel plating was discovered in 1837

The kind of electroless nickel plating offered today by professionals such as those at swmf.co.uk/surface-coatings/electroless-nickel-plating/ would not exist if an attempt to make surgical implements had not accidentally resulted in nickel plating 190 years ago.

You may not need to be aware of every obscure fact about nickel, but it is worthwhile to appreciate the many diverse ways in which it is significant.

Good Maintenance for your CCTV

Whether you are looking for ways to keep your home safe, or to protect your business, CCTV is a great thing to have to make your property more secure. Getting a professional like this CCTV installation Worcester based company https://apmfireandsecurity.com/cctv-installation/cctv-installation-worcester to install a suitable CCTV system can help to reduce the risk of crime.

Of course, to make sure that your system is running smoothly, you should make sure that it is well maintained – these are some of the things that need to be done to make sure it is all running correctly…

Ensure Cameras are Clear

Something that should always be done to make sure that the cameras are able to work correctly is make sure that the lens of the camera is free of debris. If the camera is outdoors, debris on the lens can be a particular problem that needs to be kept on top of, but even inside it can become covered in dust or even the odd spider’s web!

Check the Cable Connections

Over time, like anything, cables can be knocked loose or degrade, for example if you have animals like mice chew through them. It pays off to check every so often that they are all in good condition and are connected as they should be.

Make Sure the Locations are Correct

Sometimes it can be beneficial to move the cameras or even add extra ones if you are concerned an area is not being covered that should be. Changes that can also affect where the cameras are situated include things like trees growing or building work that can obscure the view.