# Is it and alloy of gold? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343 "2018-01-10T17:33:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shinnen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@shinnen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinnen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/1 "2018-01-10T17:33:20Z")
Hi all, I have a gold coloured eagle, that I did a density test on (by weighing in water and air). The result was 10.13, certainly not pure gold. I’ve had it for a couple of years, and it shows no signs of tarnish. It has no markings; but does have a very slight attraction to an earth magnet. It will bend, but not easily. I suppose the nitric acid test would be the next step; but I do not have any. Any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks, … john ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/2 "2018-01-10T17:44:53Z")
It’s probably a lead alloy. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/3 "2018-01-10T17:48:45Z")
If there’s any gold in it it will likely be gold plate. Try small scratch in an inconspicuous place. ---
**Author:** ![shinnen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@shinnen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinnen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/4 "2018-01-10T21:00:03Z")
beowulff - like pot metal? Quartz - Yes, good idea. I should have thought of it. It does show a shiny silvery surface when scratched, so it’s likely a lead alloy. (I suppose it could be silver.) In any event, there’s likely no more gold than the coating. Thanks, … john ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/5 "2018-01-10T21:07:40Z")
Okay, okay, I’ll do it. You sure it’s not a falcon, from Malta, perhaps? There. It’s done. Move on. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/6 "2018-01-10T21:48:37Z")
> [@shinnen](#): > > I have a gold coloured eagle, that I did a density test on (by weighing in water and air). The result was 10.13, 10.13 in which units? For instance silver is 10.5 g/cm[sup]3[/sup] How confident are you that the item is solid? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/7 "2018-01-10T22:06:27Z")
I read the OP as referring to an [$10 eagle coin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(United_States_coin)), and that the OP was wondering whether it is counterfeit, but now I’m wondering if it instead refers to a statuette of a bird. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/8 "2018-01-10T22:25:15Z")
Yeah, I was assuming eagle coin, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/9 "2018-01-10T22:45:41Z")
That’s weird because I assumed statuette. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/10 "2018-01-10T23:32:33Z")
> [@shinnen](#): > > Hi all, > I have a gold coloured eagle, that I did a density test on (by weighing in water and air). The result was 10.13, certainly not pure gold. I’ve had it for a couple of years, and it shows no signs of tarnish. It has no markings \ > [@markn\_1](#): > > I read the OP as referring to an [$10 eagle coin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(United_States_coin)), and that the OP was wondering whether it is counterfeit, but now I’m wondering if it instead refers to a statuette of a bird. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Yeah, I was assuming eagle coin, too. Without markings says the OP. A coin would have markings. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/11 "2018-01-11T00:00:52Z")
The OP may have a “souvenir” (lifelike!) recreation of the original. The scam revolves around gilding a 24 carat glaze upon a semi-realistic slug _representing_ the real thing. Essentially worthless. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/12 "2018-01-12T23:23:14Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > It’s probably a lead alloy. More likely nickel; lead would actually be slightly _repelled_ by a magnet. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/13 "2018-01-12T23:53:00Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > More likely nickel; lead would actually be slightly _repelled_ by a magnet. Wouldn’t that depend upon the pole of the magnet, as oriented to the item? Lead is definitely cheaper than nickel… And thrift is definitely a driving factor in any scam. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/14 "2018-01-13T00:51:43Z")
> [@ZurBob](#): > > Wouldn’t that depend upon the pole of the magnet, as oriented to the item? > > Lead is definitely cheaper than nickel… And thrift is definitely a driving factor in any scam. Shortly: no. [Here](https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-magnetic-properties-of-lead) is a source. I definitely remember this because a large portion of the (otherwise, sadly, mostly forgotten!) part of the “determination of G” experiment I did in high school involved bringing a torsion pendulum (consisting of a pair of leaden balls mounted on a string) to rest with the help of magnets)! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/15 "2018-01-13T01:16:41Z")
Assuming the OP’s density is in gm/cm^3, Nickel isn’t dense enough. It’s possible that this is a sandwich of some ferrous material with a lead or tungsten alloy. It’s also possible that there is a Nickel layer on top of the base metal to promote the gold plate, which is a pretty standard process. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-and-alloy-of-gold/806343/16 "2018-01-13T01:18:51Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > Shortly: no. [Here](https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-magnetic-properties-of-lead) is a source. Interesting. I stand corrected re lead’s interaction with any strong magnetic force, positive or negative. _Strong_ being key here. However, I doubt the OP was referring to laboratory conditions in his assessment procedure, so I doubt that his observation necessarily rules out a lead alloy (perhaps high in iron?), nor indicates it must be predominantly a nickel alloy. Who knows? Again, lead is more cost effective than nickel.