Rising demand for precious metals from both buyers and sellers in the past 20 years means that there is growing interest in the authenticity of items being exchanged.
Cash for Your Gold has seen many things over the years.
One phenomenon we have observed is the prevalence of items which are purported to be gold, only for further scrutiny to reveal that they are far less dense than they ought to be or that they are electroplated. It’s easy to pass items off as gold in a superficial way, but we know how gold and silver should behave, so here are some things to keep an eye on, when you decide to sell.
Find your certification
Gold and silver coins are popular candidates for being made counterfeit or being passed off as false gold and silver. Electroplating allows manufacturers to reduce production costs, coating less valuable metals in a superficial layer of gold. It might fool someone at first glance, but density is impossible to fake. Gold atoms are densely packed together, meaning false gold items are often far less heavy than they should be.
To make sure your gold coin is authentic, a certificate of authenticity is helpful, as this helps identify its origins and guarantees the dealer was reputable. Gold prices are close to all-time highs, and you don’t want a nasty last-minute surprise as you prepare to sell. Cutting corners might mean you didn’t pay terribly much to acquire your item at first, but it could mean trying to sell it will hit a brick wall eventually.
Other warning signs about your item could be if it shows unusual signs of fading, or the seller offered the item as being ‘enhanced’ by gold. The point is simple: true gold doesn’t need enhancing, and such a term suggests the item wasn’t pure gold to begin with, detracting from the item’s value from the offing.
Check your item out
Cash for Your Gold is in a position to help you assess whether your item is true gold or silver. We know the signs to look out for – hallmarks, density and other classic characteristics associated with proper gold and silver items.
If you would like a professional opinion, we can arrange a Zoom consultation to assess your item over video call. In addition, you can send the item to us so we can examine it ourselves using the necessary metrics and equipment.
Questions over the purity of gold and silver items might persist, and you shouldn’t ignore valid concerns about your items being what you hope they are. Give us a call on 01902 623 253 to hear from professional experts in the world of precious metals today.