How to Spot Fake Gold American Coins
- 1). Look at the coin. Real gold coins have a distinctive yellow, dull but golden shine. Coins that are gold mixed with a cocktail of other metals often have a gold tinge, but they also have other colors, such as copper, so the overall appearance is somewhat coppery.
- 2). Place the coin on the concave end of a Fisch tool. The Fisch will calculate the density of the coin in grams per cubic centimeter. Because gold has an immutable density, a fake gold coin is likely to be significantly lighter for its diameter. The Fisch tool will help you determine that.
- 3). Drop the coin on the hard surface of a table. A gold coin will make a distinctive chime, whereas a coin mixed with other metals will simply produce a dull thud. Ideally, you should have a coin that you know is gold to compare to the coin in question.
- 4). Scratch the coin on a rough surface, and examine the color of the coin beneath the outer layer. If it's a different color, then you have a gold-plated coin.
- 5). Place a magnet near the gold coin. A pure gold coin will not be attracted to the magnet. A fake gold coin, which is a medley of other metals, will gravitate toward the magnet.