Cast Raw Gold Button / Smelted Gold Pellet
Raw Gold / Smelted Button · Yellow-White Secondary Alloy (likely a result of home-smelting mixed jewelry scrap or dental gold).
Purity: Indeterminate; visual suggests potential low-purity doré or alloyed scrap (likely 10K-14K or under 58.5% gold). The pale, silvery-yellow hue indicates a significant presence of silver or nickel/zinc alloys rather than 24K pure gold.
Type
Raw Gold / Smelted Button
Purity
Indeterminate; visual suggests potential low-purity doré or alloyed scrap (likely 10K-14K or under 58.5% gold). The pale, silvery-yellow hue indicates a significant presence of silver or nickel/zinc alloys rather than 24K pure gold.
Gold Type
Yellow-White Secondary Alloy (likely a result of home-smelting mixed jewelry scrap or dental gold).
Weight
15 to 30 grams (estimated based on visible volume and density of typical gold alloys relative to surface area).
Description
This item is a circular, cast gold button, commonly produced when gold scrap, jewelry, or dental alloys are melted together into a single 'button' for easier weighing and transport. The item lacks the rich, deep luster of high-purity gold, suggesting it is a lower-karat alloy mix. The top surface shows evidence of mechanical abrasion (filing), likely done to test the metal's interior color or to remove slag.
Key Features
Circular 'button' form factor with a flat top and slightly rounded sides; evidence of a cooling pour-mold shape; rough unpolished surface.
Color & Finish
Pale, desaturated yellow with greyish-white undertones. The finish is raw and 'as-cast' with a rough, uneven planar surface that appears to have been filed or ground down.
Hallmarks & Stamps
None visible. This is a non-commercial, non-hallmarked piece of bullion or scrap melt.
Dimensions Estimate
Approximately 18mm to 22mm in diameter; 4mm to 6mm in thickness.
Gemstones & Inlays
None.
Clasp & Closure
Not applicable.
Chain & Links
Not applicable; solid cast body.
Craftsmanship Details
Rudimentary casting. The surface shows 'cooling rings' and gas porosity (pitting), indicating a basic torch-melt process rather than professional vacuum casting.
Authentication Indicators
RED FLAGS: The grayish-white color is highly atypical for pure gold (999). Lack of stamps suggests an unrefined alloy. Testing with XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) or a specific gravity test is essential as this could be brass, bronze, or 'white gold' scrap with low gold content.
Origin & Maker
Unknown; likely a private refiner or hobbyist jeweler. No mint marks or refinery stamps present.
Era & Period
Modern / Contemporary industrial or hobbyist melt.
Age Estimate
Likely recent production (2000s-present) based on lack of patina and modern grinding marks on the surface.
Cultural Significance
Represents the 'gold cycle'—the process of recycling old jewelry or dental work into bullion form to capture liquid value.
Condition Notes
Poor / Scrap Grade. The item is an industrial byproduct with surface scratches, pitting (small holes typical of gas trapped during casting), and no decorative finish.
Value Estimate
Primarily melt value. Calculated as: (Weight x Purity % x Gold Spot Price) minus a small refining fee. Given the color, its value per gram is likely significantly lower than that of pure gold.
Care & Maintenance
Store in a labeled container with its weight and tested purity noted. Avoid skin contact if it contains high nickel (potential for oxidation or irritation). No cleaning required as it is scrap.
Similar Items
Gold doré bars, dental gold scrap, high-purity casting grain (which is much smaller), or counterfeit lead-filled brass slugs.
Interesting Facts
Gold 'buttons' like this are the first step in the refining process where miscellaneous gold items are combined before being chemically purified back into .999 fine gold.