Introduction (for those new to this website):
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
Published: July 30, 2020
Updated: June 10, 2023 – Saturday
Faux 1922 Peace Coin with Skeletonized Lady Liberty
One of my sons bought this for another one of my sons as a gag gift for his birthday in 2020. (For those who are new here, I have four sons!)
In spite of our family’s deep knowledge of the concerns for toxicity with vintage & antique items, I have one son who just loves to collect antiques – and especially antique coins! Don’t get me started about how much this could upset me! Instead of dwelling in upset, I try to focus on my interactions related to this one kiddo’s passion by directing him towards safer (toxicant-free) choices (when it comes to antiques), and also by testing the items he collects (if I don’ already know they are safe.) [Here’s a link to test results for a small antique / vintage glass item that I gifted to him after I tested it.] He’s an adult now [three of my sons are officially adults now, actually!], and very aware of the potential risks for toxicant exposure from unsafe objects / consumer goods – so he is both patient, and understanding / thankful for my input on his collectibles.
He also (unfortunately) likes to fidget / to have a small fidget on hand to flip between his fingers. Needing a fidget (for comfort or distraction – or to help with academic focus, actually) is a common thing for people who were Lead-poisoned as infants or toddlers; it goes hand-in-hand with OCD / ADHD / Tourette’s / Autism / Sensory Processing Disorder, and many of the other common symptomatic (diagnosable) expressions / impacts of childhood Lead-exposure. You can read more articles about the symptoms of Lead exposure on this link.
As a result of his need to have a fidget, I often find him flipping a coin in between his fingers (sometimes as an all-day side activity – depending on what he is up to!), and – especially when he was younger – even taking that coin and (absentmindedly) even rubbing it against his lips. Because of this habit, and because of my solid knowledge of the toxicants-content in some (most!) coins, I do my best to test all of the coins I can from his collection – to make sure they are safe for him to fidget with (in case they end up being absent-mindedly used that way). I also make sure that any coins he has that test positive for toxicants (heavy metals including Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, or Antimony) are kept in small plastic protective sleeves (like these or these, affiliate links*).
It is for all of the above reasons I tested the coin pictured – immediately (!) after it was gifted to him. [General advice for all: wash your hands before eating, if you have been handling coins!]
XRF Test results for the coin pictured:
When tested with an XRF Instrument in consumer goods mode, the collectable coin pictured here had the following readings:
- Arsenic (As): 1,639 +/- 183 ppm
- Selenium (Se): 15,400 +/- 900 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 297,200 +/- 3,300 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 619,700 +/- 4,900 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 59,500 +/- 900 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 1,417 +/- 268 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 1,197 +/- 121 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Some additional reading that may be of interest:
- More coins we have tested and reported on (there are ten examples up on the website right now, make sure to click “next page” after you have checked out the first 8!)
- Some other examples specifically of coins that tested positive for Arsenic
- Some examples of coins that tested positive for Lead
- Some examples of coins that tested positive for Cadmium
- Some examples of coins that tested positive for Mercury
- Some examples of coins that tested positive for Antimony
As always, please let me know if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them personally as soon as I have a kid-free moment. Thank you for reading and for sharing articles from LeadSafeMama.com / TamaraRubin.com.
Tamara Rubin
Owner – Lead Safe Mama, LLC
#LeadSafeMama
Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on a Lead Safe Mama, LLC affiliate link we may receive a percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you.
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