27 September 2013

The Fisch Family pages are a password protected part of the website for Fisch Users only. Here you will find information and tips on using the Fisch, the coins checked by the Fisch, useful information about other coins and their minting as well as feedback from Fisch Users. 

 

Here are some examples of the useful, and sometimes vital, information you will find in the Fisch Family Pages. The excerpts below are only part of the articles, of course. 

 

2013 Silver American Eagle - Part high rim 19 June 2013 

Here is a email from a user: I recently purchased a Monster Box of American Silver Eagles 2013, and they fit perfectly in the rounded end bit, they balance the scales... 

 

2013 British Sovereign - Measured & Checked with the Fisch 18 June 2013 

After a few emails from users about 2013 British Sovereigns being tight through the slot of the Fisch, I bought one to check it out for myself. Here is what I found: The thickness of the rim (thickest part of a coin) coin is not consistent. One half... 

 

Maple Leaf - 1oz gold - Weight 8 May 2013 

UPDATE: A further email from the user, in response to a request that he weigh the coins in question: 24 May 2013 Ken, I must be losing my mind. I found a friend who had a scale I could borrow to weigh the coins in question. Although I had marked the... 

 

British Sovereign - Thickness - 2009 & 2013 Mintages 8 May 2013 

 Here are 2 emails from users: "The first question is have you come across an issue with the 2009 Gold Sovereign being "slightly" too thick to pass through the Fisch? Basically it almost goes through, but catches on 1 edge. I have... 

 

Krugerrand - 1/2oz - 2012 - Oversize Diameter 20 February 2013 

I have had a report from a Fisch user in Spain regarding oversize diameter 2012 1/2oz Krugerrands. This follows on the report of 2009 1oz Krugerrands also with oversize diameters. See "Important Information on 2009 Krugerrand 1oz coins" in this section... 

 

Fake American Eagle silver coins surface 20 February 2013 

These fake coins would be detected by the Fisch. They are overweight and oversize in the thickness while under-size in the diameter. This article was first published in February 04, 2013, U.S. Collectibles section of CoinWorld.com It is written... 

 

Maple Leaf 1/10oz Fisch checks the 1/10oz Austrian Philharmonic 4 March 2011 

Maple Leaf 1/10oz Fisch checks the 1/10oz Austrian Philharmonic Thanks to a Fisch Family member in Poland for discovering this. The coins are the same size (and weight, of course) so the Maple Leaf Fisch works for the Austrian Philharmonic.... 

 

Underweight Proof Krugerrands 16 April 2012 

Getting the weight right is the easiest part (well it should be) of minting a coin. So how this has been allowed to happen is a mystery. The blanks for the coins come from another company, the Rand Refinery. Just another reason to use the Fisch to check your coins wherever you buy them... 

 

Important Information on 2009 Krugerrand 1oz coins 15 April 2010 

As you will read in the emails below from Fisch Family members, there are 2009 Krugerrands out there that are larger diameter than mint specification. This is startling news, to put it mildly. Firstly, ignore the coin specifications on the SA Mint website. They are/were wrong. This was initially confusing to some family members... 

 

Krugerrand & American Eagle: Specifications are the same Updated 1 January 2000 

The American Eagle (AE) and the Krugerrand have identical specs. The reason for this is that when Congress banned the further importation of Krugerrands (KR) in the '80's, they legislated the AE to take its place and made it the same size, weight & finesses. Hence the Fisch... 

 

Maple Leaf - 1oz Gold - 2009 - Oversize Diameter 15 April 2010

I have had reports from users of Maple Leaf 1oz gold coins with oversize diameters. Here is one: "Hi Ken: Thank you for your reply. I can tell you this re: the coins in question. I ordered 9 coins, they varied in diameter between 31.10 to 31.17 mm in diameter... 

 

US $10 (1838-1933) & $20 (1850-1933) 18 July 2010 

An email from a Fisch user: I need some clarification in the proper use of the Fisch. I have used the fisch successfully (I think) on 1 oz. American Eagles and 1 oz. Krugerrands. The coins fit in the cup, passed completely through the slot, and tipped the fisch correctly. However in testing US $20 Liberty's.... 

 

Chinese Panda 30 June 2010 

 I did consider making a Fisch for the 1oz Panda but I decided against it as removing the Panda from the pouch to check it with the Fisch would result in it losing value. Read this quote in an email from a Panda expert I consulted: "Once a panda is out of the original pouch, they have a tendency to get 'scruffy'. This doesn't affect the melt value of the coin (still 1 oz of gold), but the nu... read more... 

 

British Sovereign - Fakes - Emails from Users 8 May 2013 

Here are 2 emails from users: This first email is an example of what to expect with fake British Sovereigns - the correct weight, but oversize. In other words, they are common metal fakes: A common metal substituted for some of the gold they should contain. But as the common metal has a lesser density than gold, more of it has to be used to make the fake the right weight. This results in...