A piece of metal is marked as 99+FINE. Can you tell me what it is?
It weighs about a kilo, and has the imprint of "Handy and Harman, New York Bridgeport." Its been in the family for about 100 years.
It weighs about a kilo, and has the imprint of "Handy and Harman, New York Bridgeport." Its been in the family for about 100 years.
Doc
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Fineness is used in designating some precious metals like silver (gold fineness is usually expressed in karats). To the best of my knowledge it's a 1000 point system. In which case 99+ fine would mean that it hs a metal purity of only 9.9+%. I'd have this looked at carefully, before I'd try to trade or sell this object. Handy and Harman is a very well respected and old assayer, and it may have more value as a collectible than it does metal value, if it is in fact a piece of silver.
Jeff D
99+FINE is the type of purity mark, indicating >99% purity. It's typically used on precious metals but it can be used on any metal. It will usually say what type of metal it is.
Handy and Harman deals in precious metals, so that suggests it might be one of the precious metals (gold, silver or platinum).