This ring is marked Sterling. Is it silver or not?

[Ammoman]

I need some ideas on what i might have. I found this ring last Sunday at a permission. It rang up low on my Impact (Solid 70) It was not clean like most silver i find yet it is marked Sterling and it acid tests as silver. It does not stick to a magnet but i still believe it may be fake. It just does not look right. Is it possible to have a bad test kit? I acid tested a 1959 quarter and it showed the same brown color as the ring. The house i found it at dates back to 1913. One other thing...Its very light. Not heavy like other rings of that size i have found

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[Tony in SC]

There are some soils that will erode silver but that does look strange ?

 

[Ammoman]

There are some soils that will erode silver but that does look strange ?

Yes very strange. And i have never had silver ring up so low. Normally it rings up in the mid 80s or higher

 

[jewelerguy]

almost looks like aluminum

 

[Ammoman]

almost looks like aluminum

It is possible for sure. Any way to know if its aluminum?

 

[old digger]

Possibly silver plate over copper?

 

[Ammoman]

I thought about that but it feels too light to be copper.

 

[trdking]

Is it magnetic?
Clean the broken area bright and dip it in bleach. Does it tarnish quickly in the bleach?
Place the ring on top of a fresh Ice cube. Does it start melting immediately?

Silver is not magnetic. Will tarnish very quickly in bleach and is second to copper for conductivity so it will melt ice like a hot poker

 

[Molewacker]

I wonder if it's some form of hobo art - notice the cutouts in the lettering - and a V? after sterling.

 

[trapperart]

It's silver rub it with your finger and thumb should shine up a little, congrats

 

[trdking]

I wonder if it's some form of hobo art - notice the cutouts in the lettering - and a V? after sterling.

I believe this ring was cut out much later and that V is only a part of the makers mark. You can see part of a tail of another letter running through it?

 

[Molewacker]

I believe this ring was cut out much later and that V is only a part of the makers mark. You can see part of a tail of another letter running through it?

I agree with cuts not being original - Too thin to be a spoon, perhaps scrap off a broken piece

 

[Ammoman]

Is it magnetic?
Clean the broken area bright and dip it in bleach. Does it tarnish quickly in the bleach?
Place the ring on top of a fresh Ice cube. Does it start melting immediately? Thanks, i will try those things and see what happens.

Silver is not magnetic. Will tarnish very quickly in bleach and is second to copper for conductivity so it will melt ice like a hot poker

I wonder if it's some form of hobo art - notice the cutouts in the lettering - and a V? after sterling.

Interesting thought! i will do some research on Hobo Art. Thanks so much

I believe this ring was cut out much later and that V is only a part of the makers mark. You can see part of a tail of another letter running through it?

You are right, i just assumed it was made with those holes in the ring but i see how they were cut out.

I agree with cuts not being original - Too thin to be a spoon, perhaps scrap off a broken piece

I agree as well.
One other thing i did not mention is the land the house sits on. The house was built in 1913 but the land has roots with civil war activity and also sits next door to the founding house of the town which goes back to the mid 1700's. Back in the 1700's this land would have been part of the yard where it only sits about 50 yards away.