Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Hello, and thanks in advance for any help you can offer. I'm trying to do some research on this item, and haven't been able to find anything with the exact markings as this one. From what I understand, it was used as currency and is (or is a reasonable facsimile of) a Lang bar.?

It does not test positive as sterling, but most that I see for sale are not marked as silver or are they even certified as being any particular percent silver.

If anyone is familiar with this item and can shed some light in my direction, I would greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks again,

g

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

How did you test it?

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Interesting bar. How much does it weigh? What leads you to believe it is Vietnamese?

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Those marking aren't Vietnamese, they look Chinese. The Vietnamese use our alphabet, a remnant of the French. (edit: a quick google reveals that Lang bars are pre-French era Vietnamese)

If you haven't already done so, don't buy that. I've seen a large number of the like on ebay selling for very cheap because they are lead. If it is in your possession, a ring test would be in order. Even if it is silver, you would have a horrible time ever selling it without an assay and a lot of trouble.

Do you own that, thinking of buying it, do you have physical access?

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

I have possession of the bar, and no, I didn't buy it, but am doing research for a friend who wanted to see if it was indeed worth anything. I did not personally test it, he did, and I am only going by what I was told that he thought it was Vietnamese. So, basically, I know nothing. ;) Will weigh it in a minute. My first thought was that it was lead as well......

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Thats Chinese crap....100%

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Did you try passing a magnet over it to see if it would stick?

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Most of the "silver" coming out of China is anything BUT! I've been to Chinese markets to buy it back in my more naive days. And got burned almost every time. If they'll sell lead coated toys and tainted baby food..............they'll sell anything! Koreans don't buy fish from China much anymore because a lot of fish has been found with lead in it to increase the weight. That's how they do things there.

If the bar isn't lead, more than likely it's far more nickel than silver. That's how the deposits are there.

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Unless you have some exact way to determine volume, the weight won't tell you diddly. If you have a glass cylinder calibrated in milliliters and large enough to accept the bar, you are looking for the bar to weigh 10.5 grams per milliliter. If it does that, hit it with something while balanced on end; it should ring.

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

Did you find that at Roswell? Looks familiar :D

Re: Vietnamese Silver? Bar - Indentification/Authentication questions.
 

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input. My first instinct was that it was indeed crap, but I figured it was worth a little research since I have no investment. It does not attract a magnet, and I will try the ring test as well as the displacement method as a last ditch effort.

Thanks again,

Gina