How it works
Strike the balanced coin with another metal object and listen. Genuine gold produces a long, clean, high-frequency ring. Plated or alloyed fakes produce a duller, shorter sound with different frequency profile.
Precious metals intelligence
Ping Test for Gold Coins
The ping test uses sustained resonance frequency to distinguish solid gold coins from base-metal fakes. It works well for some coins, poorly for others.
Which coins respond well
Sovereigns, Britannias, Eagles, and Maple Leafs respond reliably. Heavily alloyed coins and small fractional pieces are harder to read by ear alone.
Apps and instruments
CoinTrust and similar smartphone apps measure ping frequency against a database. The reading is more reliable than untrained ear but not infallible. Layer with weight and dimensions.
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Dealer reference
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APMEX
Broad bullion catalogCoins, bars, and market references.
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Data and financial disclosure
MetalBrief publishes market information, tools, indicators, and educational context, not account-specific investment, legal, tax, or financial advice. FX conversions, macro proxies, headlines, RSI, support, resistance, and opportunity scores are derived unless labeled as market data.