You can check the authenticity of platinum by measuring its density. Genuine platinum coins and bars match the official specifications exactly. If in doubt, have them tested by a professional. Platinum coins and platinum bars are virtually impossible to counterfeit. This is due to platinum’s exceptionally high density of 21.45 g/cm³, which indicates how much mass fits into a given volume.

You can verify whether your coin or bar is made of pure platinum by calculating its density using the formula:

P = M / V

where:

• P stands for density
• M is the mass (in grams)
• V is the volume (in cubic centimetres)

For genuine platinum coins or bars, weight and volume match the official specifications exactly. If your measurements deviate, it almost always indicates another metal. A counterfeit could, for example, have a cheaper core with only a thin outer layer of platinum.

Why platinum is almost impossible to counterfeit

With gold, a tungsten core can be used, since tungsten has nearly the same density as gold. This allows the weight to match even when the object is not made entirely of gold. With platinum, however, it’s different: no other metal has a comparable density while still being suitable for minting coins or casting bars. As a result, platinum is practically impossible to counterfeit using another metal as a core. Note that accurate measuring equipment is required for reliable testing. At our office, we can verify the authenticity of your platinum coins or bars together with you.