New Delhi, Nov. 3 -- With the beginning of the festive season, demand for gold and silver is rising across India. As Dhanteras approaches, many households follow the tradition of purchasing precious metals, with silver coins remaining a popular choice for investment and religious and auspicious purposes.

However, buyers often face concerns about the purity and authenticity of silver coins. Unscrupulous sellers may mix silver with other metals, including copper, nickel, aluminium, zinc and cadmium, potentially reducing the actual silver content.

While hallmarking provides an important means of verifying precious metal purity, consumers should not rely solely on the appearance of a silver coin. There are several simple tests that can offe...