4.7 oz. of pure silver?

[dagg nabbit]

hello all,i found this melted silver the other day at a campground that dates to the 1940's.the town dates to the 1840's though,and has a zinc/lead mining history.i have half a coffee can of melted items I've found here.this find rang up in the 90's on my at pro at 4-5 inches.i'm fairly sure its silver,though only a test would help comfirm it.if it is silver it would end my drought big time.before this I have not found any silver coins,though I've found wheats and nickles from the 40's.these pieces stll air test in the 90's except for the one with what appears to be a nail in it.it rings up at 81-82.makes me think there was a silver mine nearby nobody knew about.thoughts?thanks for stopping by for a look.

 

[BosnMate]

Sterling silverware from a house that's burned down. Happened to my great grandparents 1890's or so, is the only reason I thought about it.

 

[Argentium]

I hope you are right and that it checks out as silver - do be aware that melted blobs of aluminum are found in campgrounds too
usually a result of beer or soda cans tossed into a campfire . If the pieces are fairly heavy for their size that would lend support
to them being silver (4.7 ounces sounds pretty hefty to me )

 

[gunsil]

Melted aluminum soda or beer cans. Found often at camp sites and on beaches. Sorry, but you won't get rich with these. Numerical ID on metal detectors doesn't really accurately ID metals, they have enough conductivity to ring up like silver although they are not silver.

 

[Metal Illness]

Get it tested and report back, hope it is Silver! Congrats

 

[albertapicker]

there might still be a good potato in that tinfoil...... (jk, hope its silver)

 

[Jason in Enid]

Do yourself a favor and get it tested before you start counting your cash. Your metal detector has NO IDEA what metal is under the coil, it is merely responding to how much signal return it gets. Composition, mass, diameter and shape all affect detector reading.

 

[rodarian]

I have found some blobs like that at my in-laws house. Never found out just what type of metal it was but looks identical. I just got a metal testing kit the other day, i think i'll go test it. Thanks for reminding me that I have that and good luck on your blobs.

 

[testing123]

my initial vote is it's probably melted aluminum, but let us know what the test states!

 

[terpfan]

I hope you are right and that it checks out as silver - do be aware that melted blobs of aluminum are found in campgrounds too
usually a result of beer or soda cans tossed into a campfire . If the pieces are fairly heavy for their size that would lend support
to them being silver (4.7 ounces sounds pretty hefty to me )

Judging by the photo alone, I'd have to agree with Argentium. Likely what you've found is not silver. The weight (4.7 ounces) is about equivalent to 5 Morgan dollars. It looks like the metal mass you would have there in silver would be perhaps twice that, judging by the quarter you have shown for scale. I hope I'm wrong, because 4.7 ounces would be one heck of a silver score.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very well could be silver. The AT Pro numbers (90's) appear correct for silver and the nail will bring down the VDI number, but get a test kit to be sure. I hope you found SILVER!

Regards,

 

[dagg nabbit]

thanks for youe opinions everyone.i've dug melted cans before and this is nothing like it.heavy for their size,no impurities under my jewelers loupe that I can see other than the apparent nail.these were pretty tarnished when I dug them.after a soak and brushing with a toothbrush I hit them lightly with a small wire wheel on my dremel.and I'm not in this for the cash,it wouldn't be worth that much anyway.i'm also aware of falsing and conductivity issues with said targets.i'll have it tested by a jeweler friend and let everyone know the results.

 

[dirtscratcher]

Very well could be silver. The AT Pro numbers (90's) appear correct for silver and the nail will bring down the VDI number, but get a test kit to be sure. I hope you found SILVER!

Regards,

Rusty bottle caps must be silver also they signal in the nineties also.

 

[park pirate]

I agree with the other members get it tested..

 

[Pointman]

If it is light then it is aluminum. You can do an acid test, or take a blow torch to one of the little edges. If it is aluminum it will melt fairly quickly on the thinner pieces. Silver has a higher melting temperature and will take longer. This is a non-definitive test though.

 

[dagg nabbit]

well I finally got this tested with a acid test at a pawn shop a friend owns.believe it or not he says it tests 18k GOLD.i'm not kidding either.he had this look on his face when he was testing it,and I was saying"what?".he looks at me and say its gold.i say no way.he said"in my honest opinion it's tests at 18k gold.he gave me the name of a jeweler to confirm it ,but I didn't have time to stop by at the time.i still don't quite believe it.to good to be true.i guess i'll see when I see the jeweler.

 

[slowwevo]

wow only 5 months to test it,and now its gold... wow,i would immediately sell it to the pawn shop guy.or maybe wait till gold melt prices goes up

 

[testing123]

sell as 18k gold and run away!

 

[CRUSADER]

Melted aluminum soda or beer cans. Found often at camp sites and on beaches. Sorry, but you won't get rich with these. Numerical ID on metal detectors doesn't really accurately ID metals, they have enough conductivity to ring up like silver although they are not silver.

agreed

 

[dagg nabbit]

You know, all I can say is I hope it is gold or some precious metal..... to all you nay say'rs, screw you. We all do this as treasure hunting to find something of worth for our time spent. EVERYONE OF US. All of you haters, ever wonder why you are the way you are?

I understand completely why it has taken so long to test. It is not a top priority with work, kids, wife etc. I hope the testing is accurate. I know a lot of times natural gold is with silver or covered in mercury. Gold can be blended with silver, nickle or other metals to make white gold. I am so glad it is pointing to something more than globs of melted aluminum and feeling your excitement as EVERYONE of us do as we are out swinging and find a ring that we hope is gold or silver instead of plated junk. Keep us posted as you find out more. The haters.... go somewhere else You suck. P.S. when you get time to go to the jewelers, use your phone to record when he/she tests so that you can post it to share the excitement and discovery.

thanks for that Jason.i really thought at the most it might be silver,so it wasn't worth selling if it was anyway.i didn't get into mding to get rich,but it would be nice to find something valueble.the pawn shop is 30 miles one way,so it not like its down the road.i watched the guy test it.he was as surprised as I was.if it tests as gold at the jewelers I will get proof.