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The big mystery - silver or silver-plated?

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    #1

    The big mystery - silver or silver-plated?

    Due the recent discussions about silver or silver-plated awards here are some basic informations about different metals and platings.

    1.) A real silver award will always have a very even patina. If not, you have either a silver-plated award or a piece which was made from a silver-alloy like the late war made Württemberg Charlottenkreuz, the Württemberg Military Merit Medal or the Hessen Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen. A silver-alloy will have a strange overall color maybe with some discolorations.

    Here are two Silver St. Henry Medals. The left one is made from a late war silver-alloy, the right one is with high silver content, maybe 800 or more:
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    #2
    2.) Silver weights more than bronze. If you have two awards with the same thickness, the silver-plated award should be lighter.
    Here are some specific weights of different metals:

    Platinum (Pl): 21,5 g
    Gold (Au): 19,3 g
    Silver (Ag): 10,1 g
    Nickel (Ni): 8,9 g
    Iron (Fe): 7,7 g
    Copper (Cu): 8,9 g
    Zink (Zn): 7,0 g
    Stannous (Sn): 7,3 g
    Lead (Pb): 11,4 g
    Aluminum (Al): 2,7 g
    Magnesium (Mg): 2,4 g

    It is very interesting to see that silver is nearly as heavy as lead!

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      #3
      3.) It helps a lot to know the different alloys used for awards.

      -Billon (Silver-Copper alloy with a low silver content)

      -Brass (Copper-Zink alloy; about 40% - 60 % Copper)

      -Bronze (Copper-Stannous alloy)

      -Copper-Nickel / Alpakka (Copper-Nickel alloy; used for british medals and a lot of the imperial Long Service Awards)

      -Cupal (Copper-Aluminum alloy)

      -Neusilber or German Silver (Copper-Zink-Nickel alloy, NO silver content)

      -Silver-alloy or Base-Silver (alloy with low silver content)

      -Tombak (Copper-Zink alloy with very high Copper content of 67 - 90 %)

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        #4
        4.) Magnetism. The only metals which are magnetic are Iron and Nickel. A Copper-Nickel alloy is usually not magnetic because of the low silver content. Real Nickel is a littel bit magnetic.

        Comment

          #5
          5.) Identify a silver plating.
          If you have an unworn award which is maybe silver-plated, you can only identify it by its weight in comparison with a same sized real silver award (with silver mark or worn and with even patina and no base metal visible).

          This Württemberg Silver Military Merit Medal below is made from silver-plated bronze. On the ears of Wilhelm II. you can see the bronze base metal were the plating is worn off.
          Attached Files

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            #6
            Jens,

            Thanks for your kind explaination! Very interesting...

            Ciao,

            Claudio

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              #7
              6.) The Iron Cross.
              Now how to identify an Iron Cross with silver-plated frame from a real silver framed cross? If the cross is not worn and in mint condition, it is nearly impossible. But if you have only a small damage to the plating you will see a difference in the patina, because you have another metal, mostly Nickel (rarely Brass or Iron) on this point, which will have another patina.

              Below is a cross with real silver frame (maker "K" with rounded corners on the cross). Note the even and dark silver patina:
              Attached Files

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                #8
                Watch for the part were the ring is soldered. Due the solder you have there another color/patina too.

                Here is another cross with a lighter patina, but real silver too (maker "Wa." in the small ring).
                Attached Files

                Comment

                  #9
                  Here is a clearly silver-plated cross (maker "KO"). The parts with the damaged or worn off plating and the different colored patina of the base metal, maybe Nickel, are visible:
                  Attached Files

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Tom Y can you post a pic of an iron frame EKII?

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Hi Jens,

                      very useful info! Thank for sharing and please continue.

                      Beste Grüße

                      Daniel

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Thanks Claudio and Daniel!

                        Here is another example. The Medaille für Verdienst im Kriege from Schwarzburg. The bronze is clearly visible on the rim were the silver-plating is rubbed off due wearing.
                        Attached Files

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                          #13
                          Jens,

                          Of which material is made this St. Heinrich medal (mit Stempelschneider F.U.)? I am just curious to hear your opinion...

                          Ciao,

                          Claudio
                          Attached Files

                          Comment

                            #14
                            It looks like the one I've posted above. But difficult to say with this a little bit discolored scan.

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