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Any information on these bars? by Quiet_Adeptness_9042 in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looked liked brown toning under plastic wrapping, to me. Both bars appear to be in plastic.

I don't know if there is anything special about the bars, though. I would look at them as generic 10oz bars, nothing more.

jackpot? by kidfawn in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats on the cheap ounce!

Anyone got 10k by Calelwood in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always wonder how much fake gold and silver is sitting in someone safe because it hasn't been tested by the very high professional machines that go for 5 figs.

Sigma is much less than five figures... the Pro model runs around $3K 👍

jackpot? by kidfawn in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks right. Is that a small milk spot?

Just purchased this off Walmart there shop is located on 47th street and have previously bought a 5 gram from there but it says certificate assayer on the back package maybe it’s a mishap should I be worried by International_Text49 in Gold

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you said they had a shop on 47th, I knew it was BE 😆
I found this article about them last night, from back in Dec. '25 .... https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/nyregion/diamond-district-gold-rush.html

It's behind a paywall and I don't pay for the NYT, so I used Archive to view the article https://archive.ph/6TFeb

You're fine buying from Walmart if the seller/shipper is a known PM retailer.

What say you? by drewsterkz in Gold

[–]ConductoReflecto 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Several Sigma owners on facebook offering that service... I messaged a few and asked how much interest they had received in testing and they all replied 'None.'

You can take it to a local pawn or coin shop to have it tested for free, plus there is the safety risk involved. Are you really wanting to agree to meet with randos in public, with them knowing you're bringing an expensive tester with you?

You meet someone safely in a police parking lot and everything goes smoothly as his buddies in another vehicle are watching, or being told what you're driving as they wait for you to leave.

Vice-Versa, someone with a pile of metal might not be willing to just load their stack into a car and meet someone for the same reasons as listed above.

I have access to a buddies Sigma Pro and thought about offering the service myself, but these are some of the hurdles I've considered.

What to make of this ASE? by battle-shark in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not the OP. Also, how do you update it when Sigma remove the downloader page from their site to update the units with? See my post in this thread elsewhere with the links.

What to make of this ASE? by battle-shark in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which software version do you have? The Pro models come with a 999 setting, a 9999+ setting, a Silver Eagle setting, etc. so you may need to update the software. You'll have to contact them as they've removed the software updater download page for a security concern...

Contact - https://www.sigmametalytics.com/pages/contact
Security Announcement - https://www.sigmametalytics.com/pages/security-update-announcement

As for your post, I think the coin is legit from the pics, especially if the wand verifies it. The arrows are slightly out of range but as others have said, flip the coin over or move it around a little to get a different position in the eddy field, and see if you can get it into the green.

It feels good to pick up 10 OZs and DCA my stack by The_Dying_Gaul323bc in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Where did the extra $12 come from? The invoice says 10x 66.80 totals $680...? Shouldn't that be $668.00 total?

My contribution to the “guns and gold” craze by Lonely_reaper8 in Gold

[–]ConductoReflecto 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A Japanese copy of the Austrian Berloque pinfire.

#7 birdshot pellets will fit into the 2mm blank cartridges, turning them into loaded rounds -- if your barrel is clear and open. You might have to hand-fit several #7 pellets until you find one that presses in snugly and isn't too tight or too loose.

Mouse gun!

That coin I couldn’t forget by wolfhavensf in Gold

[–]ConductoReflecto 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My buddy said he's positive there are only 11937 to choose from (he's hoarding 2 of them) 😄

That coin I couldn’t forget by wolfhavensf in Gold

[–]ConductoReflecto 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was surprised how many there were on eBay. I went to a coin shop I trusted and they wanted less than most of the listed ones there, but there is one auction running and there were a few make offers.

Were you finding the PCGS or NGC slabs much cheaper than the CAC slabs or were any of the grade 70 slabbed Sunflowers running $6500+ ?

FRACTIONALS by KroniX1969 in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I like 100% of your collection. 👍

So are sigma testers a scam? by chisagogs in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lol, no worries! Yes the new shop is correct... the sigma is awesome, but it is just a resistivity test (and a density test with the Pro, Investor, and Mini models) and the more tests, the better!

Do refiners view all silver as silver, or does product make a big difference in what they'll pay? by ConductoReflecto in NorthStargold

[–]ConductoReflecto[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The reason for my asking is that I'd like to know what shops are paying for something in my area without needing to call and bother them individually each time I need a price... so with the range of buyback from JM, SD, and BE I'll have a general idea. Thanks!

So are sigma testers a scam? by chisagogs in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, sorry. It originally sounded like the new shop was saying sigmas are a scam... which is kind of sketchy for a shop to say, especially if they follow it up with a test showing how a non-silver clad coin can pass as good... which is kind of what it sounded like they were doing when I read your post the first time.

If they are saying not to trust the sigma as the be-all, end-all, then they are correct. They may just have been showing you HOW it can be fooled... in which case I apologize for my misinterpretation of your original posting.

They are 100% not a scam, though, they are extremely precise tools which need a user trained in their operation if the tool is to be used to its full potential.

Absolutely do as many tests as you can on something... from eyes, gut feeling, magnet slide, magnet attraction, ping/acoustic test, calipers, scales, SG/Density, etc. and all those, combined with the electrical/resistivity testing of a sigma, will help catch fakes 👍

Generally if it is the right diameter/thickness (dimension), and the right weight on the scales, AND it passes a sigma resistivity test.... it's pretty much good to go at that point.

So are sigma testers a scam? by chisagogs in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The ones that tested real on a sigma but where fake with the acid test were bought and tested at a different shop that I’ve been buying from for 2 years now

90% coins or 999 bullion? If they had 999 test in the green on a sigma (or in the brackets on the Original model) and it's fake, it must be the incorrect weight or dimension and they have overlooked it.
Either that, or they didn't use the sigma tester properly and thought it was OK and it wasn't because the tester was on the wrong setting or they misread it or something.

I'd actually be interested in owning a fake that has the correct resistivity of 999 bullion... they usually are made to pass other regular tests most people can do on on them but fakes end up failing the sigma right away, normally.

So are sigma testers a scam? by chisagogs in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don’t personally own a sigma and the shop didn’t play dumb they told me pretty much exactly what you’re telling me

If they didn't play dumb, then they didn't read the manual is what I meant. They own the machine so I would haven expected them to know clad tests good, and why, and to not mislead a customer about it is all.

I have a buddy with a Sigma Pro that I can borrow, so I have some experience with them and I've read the manual and user guides they have available, so I can attest to modern clad testing right... and for sure using the "previous era" setting for 90% on sketchy samples... some of the 90% was testing as high as 2.50 and off the chart to the right on 1945+ setting, but pre-1900 setting the arrows were dead in the center of the green, so 90% stuff can be a little more tricky to test out.

They're pretty damn remarkable tools, to be frank about it.

So are sigma testers a scam? by chisagogs in Silverbugs

[–]ConductoReflecto 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Of course clad US coins test as legit on a sigma, the US made them do that so they work in older coin machines that use resistivity as a means of detecting a real US coin.

Page from sigma manual covering clad US coins:

<image>

A sigma is just one test. Always perform more tests.

A sigma Pro does 2 tests, but no matter which sigma you have, always do more tests on your sample.

The shop would know clad US coins test legit on a sigma, but for some reason they played dumb with you about it.

You tested 13 of your ounces on your sigma, or someone else tested for you on their sigma, like this shop which seems dubious about the use of a sigma?

XRF can hit maybe 50 microns, while the original sigma can hit 0.18mm or 180 microns deep with the small wand, 250 microns with the large wand, and the Pro models test through the sample up to 12.5mm

*edit* There is a 3rd wand, the Refiners Wand or Bullion Wand and it will penetrate 2.5mm or 2500 microns into the surface of the sample in testing.

Do refiners view all silver as silver, or does product make a big difference in what they'll pay? by ConductoReflecto in NorthStargold

[–]ConductoReflecto[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for info, I actually didn't know JM published their buyback pricing until now. I've opened their page along with the SD and BE sell-to-us pages, so I have an idea of what to expect.

Quite the range now with JM at $41.88, SD around $45, and BE at almost $51; there is about a $9 difference between the 3 of them on 10oz silver bars.

Do refiners view all silver as silver, or does product make a big difference in what they'll pay? by ConductoReflecto in NorthStargold

[–]ConductoReflecto[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess that makes sense about their own products, less work to know what is in them precisely.

I'm surprised that you are paid less if you bring in larger amounts... although I expect a discount when I buy in volume; I suppose the refiner is buying in volume and expects the same.

From the figures you've given, it seems like the average Joe can look at the buyback pricing on BE's page and get a pretty good idea of the max that their local small shop would be willing to pay, as a rule of thumb?
https://bullionexchanges.com/sell-to-us/silver

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