Numismatics were the rage as soon as coins were first minted, a matter that is itself shrouded in numismatic history. Herodotus claims the Lydians first minted coins in the 5th or 6th century BCE, but Aristotle says it was a certain Phrygian, namely the wife of King Midas. Yes, that King Midas. In any case, authenticating coins for sale or purchase remains a high-octane subject. Here are the basics of authenticating.
Heads & Flutes
Chicago coin buyers and buyers the world over know that two heads and no flutes spell trouble. Throughout history, two-headed coins bespoke their own doom, since they were almost never minted. In modern times, double-headed coins are a rarity, minted specifically to commemorate this or that. Real, rare coins typically have one head and one tail, period.
Fluting along the edges is another sign of authenticity. It takes centuries of incessant usage and handling to wear away fluting. If a rare coin appears without fluting, it’s either ridiculously old or fake.
Density & Weight
Most coins minted in certain places at certain times follow specific recipes of metals and alloys combined in specific ratios. Seasoned buyers and collectors know this, so they gauge authenticity by measuring overall weight, mass and density. Recall that an alloy’s density is its mass divided by its volume.
Genuine coins have standard mass measurable with a balance. Their volume can be obtained via the same formula used to find the volume of a cylinder: V=piR2H, where H is height or thickness and R is the radius. Buyers follow these and other protocols when appraising rare and modern coins made of gold or other alloys. All of these tests and configurations are just as easy to do at home.
For more info on Chicago coin buyers, visit Chicago Gold Gallery online, and see how this seasoned, experienced team can offer the most competitive cash amounts for coins.
