At first I thought it was one of my long written-off-never-to-be-seen-again forgotten orders. How many were there …six, seven lost now? This couldn’t be a late surprise Secret Santa gift either.
It's from a Canadian postal address, as I shake it box, "Nothing sounds broken." This also explains why this box is pristine, without the distinctive trademarks left by the CBSA gorillas that protect me from dangerous mail.
“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
With mystery mail, and this does not happen often, is I like to guess a bit before reading the note. Some community members know I enjoy a guessing games.
Beginning with the largest item in the package, It's @bitcoinman's 3D Printed Pinger. Sweet! A simple test device to verify coins having a significant silver content, by a delightful distinguishing resonant ring. And this appears to be a part of a Testing Kit.
I used to manually ping a few bullion coins as I go by the cheap way of balancing a silver coin at the tip of my finger on one hand and striking the coin with a blunt metal or wooden object held by the other hand. With my fine motor skills impaired, I would have a greater likelihood of dropping and possibly damaging the coin.
Here is the original Pocket Pinger publicly advertised by a few popular YouTube Stackers I follow. From time to time I've mulled getting one but It's not important enough to buy across the border even under my CBSA angst, For some strange reason these cannot be shipped across the border into Canada. Could these be deemed illegal by the CBSA? And why? Try your luck if you are outside Canada.
Since then I have yet to see a comparable model available until @bitcoinman and his 3D printed products came online, a interest to purchase would predicated on my buying, trading, winning, sending something between us even if were private unmasked selfies as @trumpman alleges. I don't like revealing my face anywhere on the internet even though certain social websites claim some bullet proof privacy promise. Showing all that shiny makes me a target should an unsavory person outside my circle in my hometown recognize me.
I found this device easy to comfortably grasp with either my left or right hand without worrying about dropping both device and coin. I still have enough right hand dexterity grasp my kunai letter opener and tap the coin. Ping! I like it.
Included with this Test kit are some shiny!
The Shiny
The first test subject will be this ‘Sunshine mint round’ that came with this Pinger. I can remember seeing Sunshine mint products on the Chinese E-tailer AlieExpress at FAR below spot price! I ask, “Is this a fake?!” My first impression of the ‘Sunshine’ by weight feels real. I do have a pocket jeweler’s scale standing by but left it aside for the sake of solely testing the Pinger. A gentle yet firm tap yielded a lovely ping. Therefore, this Sunshine generic round is the real thing. Sweet! 🍬
The second test subject is this ‘alleged’ fake 2023 Britannia featuring Chuck III. Removing this test subject from it’s genuine Lighthouse brand acid free plastic flip, this coin feels weighty like the real silver but does it have the resonant ring of 999 Silver?
Again, I give this subject coin a gentle yet firm tap. The ping is beautiful. Woah, apparently it is real silver too!
Next test subject is a 1966 Canadian silver dollar. If this is a fake, it’s a darned good fake since I’m very familiar with this coin in quality, weight in my hand and down to the toning inside between the reeding. It makes more sense counterfeiting the rare 1948 or 1947ML silver dollar than the much more common 1966.
Giving the third subject coin a gentle yet firm tap yielded another rich resonant ping. Well what do you know, It’s genuine!
By this time I realize that this is not a Test Kit, but a Care Package.
Like how do you test this?
The Letter
My lack of postings seemed to have raised some alarm bells, rest assured, I am far from quitting. I still endeavor in writing good comments. Comments that may be; insightful, encouraging, humorous, constructive as long as I can convey the sense that the writer is 'heard' and add value to the Author's post. Even with my physical limitations I try my best to remain active and make a difference in our Community and Hive.
Dear Kerris,
We know this last year has been a particularly challenging one for you. Through it all (Deb's passing, your health struggles) you have continued to be generous with your time, your stories, and your friendship with us all. You are the most unique and knowledgeable members of the silver gold Stackers crew. Half of us wouldn't be here if it weren't for you discovering our blogs on Hive. Plus, your comments (and the ones from the Stackitis nurse) bring everyone the joy and encouragement to keep on posting on the platform.
That being said, take time for yourself. Take care of yourself. And please know you are so loved, we hope this gift brightens your day.
I read and comment posts off and on throughout the day as my energy and ability to focus permits or my right arm becomes too stiff and uncomfortable to continue. It’s a slow and tedious, and energy sapping typing in each letter wrestling with my own nervous system and why I haven’t posted for some time.
I'm not out of the woods yet. It has only seven months since Deb's passing. Depression and burnout are two tough opponents to fight, stubborn, and they don't fight fair. It may be a while before the dreary clouds clear and my heart catches up to my head.
Silvergoldstackers may be a small community here on Hive but we can sure punch above our weight when it comes to supporting our members. I remember the earlier years when this community was much larger and my fresh face was among many finding our own way and style. As the years pass and more accounts go silent On-boarding" and "Retaining active members" become the dominant topic and issue necessary for the long term success for our social platform, a problem that every Hive community faces. After all, I am just individual doing my small part in building our communities.
Thank you my friends.
Consider my day brightened! 🌞❤️
For further entertaining reading; A cute little fictional story about Juan the bull and the Ring of Silver.
Always adding Silver and Crypto to my Stack for that rainy day or dark and stormy night!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!
References
Photos are my own shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W or otherwise indicated.
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞
The Pocket Pinger by Sound Metal money. $35USD
YouTube; The Coin Box How do you use a Pocket Pinger. .
