The Two Coins

Jack Smith · 13 Aug 2010, 20:06 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: jack.smith.1946 at gmail.com (Jack Smith)
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:06:06 -0400
Subject: (urth) The Two Coins
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W248C6DEA3A6D5BB50D9171CF980 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W248C6DEA3A6D5BB50D9171CF980 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <AANLkTimqMwBLxZCJBtMgvdejVaLaM97U2f33a5vEVvFP at mail.gmail.com>

Brass used in  counterfeit coins seems to make them feel greasy.  At least
that's what Mark Twain says:

"I told him I had an old slick counterfeit quarter that warn't no good
because the brass showed through the silver a little, and it wouldn't pass
nohow, even if the brass didn't show, because it was so slick it felt
greasy, and so that would tell on it every time."  --Huckleberry Finn,
Chapter 4



On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 2:47 PM, Lee Berman <severiansola at hotmail.com>wrote:

>
> >Jeff Wynn- What are these coins made of that feels so greasy? I was
> thinking polished brass, but I don't know.
> >
> > Any metallurgists out there?
>
> My guess is a lead alloy, which would have the golden color, the weight and
> heft of gold, but soft
> and greasy feeling to the touch.
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-- 
Best wishes,
Jack
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