Golden Phonograph Records – Do They Exist, and Where Are They?
Way back in 1977, NASA launched its Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Both of them are now about 14 billion miles from Earth and, incredibly, both are still communicating scientific data back to NASA.
Why are we telling you about these two space probes on our blog about precious metals? Because both Voyager 1 and 2 are carrying gold-plated copper disks – basically records – that that contain critical information about life on earth and what we humans have accomplished. The idea is that if space aliens find these disks one day, they will get to know us.
Those two gold disks seem to among be the only completely genuine gold records (or more accurately, gold-plated records) that exist. Unless you happen to be 14 billion miles from earth and can snag them, your chances of finding anything like them is pretty slim.
But what about other gold records that you can find in antique stores, in sports memorabilia shops or for sale online? Do they really contain recyclable gold? In most cases not. So-called gold records that are issued to recording artists if their releases sell in the millions are really vinyl disks that are electroplated with a non-metallic coating that only looks like gold.
The same is often true of other gold-toned awards, such as medals and trophies.
However, you never know for sure. If you find gold-toned trophies, plaques or commemoratives, it is worth your while to investigate and find out what they are really worth. Call Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners and ask about how we can test your discoveries and tell you definitively whether your items are worthless, priceless . . . or something valuably in between.
Our precious metals consultants are here at 800-426-2344 to answer all your questions.
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