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Gold figurines
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Deadlord
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 12:20 am

Quick and easy question, guys: Are the gold figurines from the TSR line worth anything substantial?

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benjoshua
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 9:38 am

Deadlord wrote in Gold figurines:Quick and easy question, guys: Are the gold figurines from the TSR line worth anything substantial?

From 2014

TollHouseGolem wrote in I am concerened its fake--how would you tell?:Based on the most recent sale of a similar mini for less than $35, the mini in question is priced 10x too high. I think the most I've ever seen a gold-plated Grenadier mini go for was maybe $100 or so.

Truth is worth finding and life is too short to work for money.

dbartman
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 12:05 pm

Yes, they are worth a considerable amount.

Deadlord
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 1:16 pm

Ah. Thanks, guys. If I pick them up I'll hold a raffle or whatever and donate the money to charity. I only keep minis that I use.

If you hit a Rowsdower, you get to keep it.

FoulFoot
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 1:38 pm

They'll probably come in handy as bartering currency in the post-Coronavirus apocalypse.

Foul

Sir Kill Alot
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 6:00 pm

FoulFoot wrote in Gold figurines:They'll probably come in handy as bartering currency in the post-Coronavirus apocalypse.

Foul

I hope I'm trading with someone here. That's right... Your F150 full of MRE's for the wizard...

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FoulFoot
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 6:30 pm

Uh, dumb question that I'm sure has come up before: are these (allegedly) solid gold, or gold-plated? I assume solid gold, for all the fuss. Electroplating in gold costs like two bucks. And has anyone sawed theirs in half to confirm the gooey nougat center isn't actually lead?

Foul

dbartman
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 10:04 pm

Gold-plated. Wish they were solid gold, as I've got a few of them.

I believe there was a promotion/contest where they gave away a solid gold nugget too.

No, I haven't sawed any of mine in half to verify.

sauromatian
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:57 am

FoulFoot wrote in Gold figurines:Uh, dumb question that I'm sure has come up before: are these (allegedly) solid gold, or gold-plated? I assume solid gold, for all the fuss. Electroplating in gold costs like two bucks. And has anyone sawed theirs in half to confirm the gooey nougat center isn't actually lead?

Step 1. Put mini into graduated cylinder of water to measure volume.

Step 2. Measure weight of mini, & compare to volume.

Step 3. Run naked through street while shouting "EUREKA!"

Step 4. Get arrested & offer your highly valuable mini as bail. Explain dynamics of collectors' market to judge.

blackdougal
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 4:23 pm

sauromatian wrote in Gold figurines:
Step 1. Put mini into graduated cylinder of water to measure volume.

Step 2. Measure weight of mini, & compare to volume.

Step 3. Run naked through street while shouting "EUREKA!"

Step 4. Get arrested & offer your highly valuable mini as bail. Explain dynamics of collectors' market to judge.

Forget about the mini... this comment is the real gold. :lol:

Deadlord
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 2:27 am

dbartman wrote in Gold figurines:Yes, they are worth a considerable amount.

Hey Bartman, could you possibly tell if these are the gold ones? I'd very much appreciate any help

If they are, I'll pick them up and probably have a raffle in the forum, then donate the proceeds to a charity, or Foul.

Frank

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SimperingToad
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 8:33 pm

dbartman wrote in Gold figurines:Gold-plated. Wish they were solid gold, as I've got a few of them.

I believe there was a promotion/contest where they gave away a solid gold nugget too.

No, I haven't sawed any of mine in half to verify.

I somehow doubt they were even really gold plated. It was probably a golden-colored alloy, like the Sacagewea and Presidential dollar coins (largely copper and magnesium IIRC). I have not seen anything to confirm or deny, though. Just a hunch.

When I had a couple of these, it looked to me like they were plated in a similar fashion to how baby shoes get bronzed. I got between $50-60 each for the ones I had eight or nine years ago.

Grenadier did run a drawing for several years for those that got the lucky find in their gold line box sets and sent in the paperwork. The drawing was for an ounce of pure gold.

On the photos: I am not aware that Ral Partha did anything similar. I have seen some minis (I believe in their post-lead era) that were discolored with a slight gold-ish sheen. I always chalked that up to the mix of the new metals being used. Learning curve and all that.

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dbartman
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 9:35 pm

I haven't done a test to confirm, but I'm pretty confident they are gold plated. They were advertised as gold-plated too, so unless they were making it up, I would say they were legitimately gold plating them. It doesn't cost a lot to gold plate anything of this size.

I've got some other items that were gold finished vs. gold plated, and you can typically tell the difference.

Hi Deadlord,

I have a few that are similar in coloration. None of those miniatures appear to be the gold-plated ones that Ral Partha and Grenadier put out.

I think those miniatures either had some impurities in the lead or were lead alloys that resulted in the slightly gold tinting. The tinting could have been present when they were cast, or became more pronounced over time. Copper, bronze, brass can have that effect and these metals/alloys can also enhance the strength of the lead. Some of those miniatures might even be pewter. The later miniatures contained less lead and more of other metals.

Some of those miniatures are pretty nice, regardless!

Deadlord
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 6:33 am

You guys rock, thanks. I'll probably pick them up just to be on the safe side.

If you hit a Rowsdower, you get to keep it.

gyg
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:52 am

Actual Gold Miniature Is Cheaper Than Forge World Resin - Spikey Bits

Gold miniatures just aren’t in it price wise!

You can never have too much of something you didn't need in the first place.

SimperingToad
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 10:01 pm

NobleKnight has a photo of the gold Ral Parthas. They all look to be older sculpts.

Ral Partha Limited Edition Gold Miniatures Collection - 11 Figures - Ral Partha Limited Loose Mini - Noble Knight Games

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grodog
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 7:04 pm

Sorry I didn’t get back to you on these yet Frank, been a busy week :-/

None of the minis look like the gold-plated ones I have from Grenadier or Ral Partha. You can compare photos in my FB minis album at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 832&type=3 if that helps?

Allan.

Allan Grohe ([email protected])
Greyhawk, grodog Style

Editor and Project Manager, Black Blade Publishing
https://www.facebook.com/BlackBladePublishing/

Deadlord
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2020 9:30 am

Wow, thanks, guys! They definitely don't look like the real deal. Much appreciated!

If you hit a Rowsdower, you get to keep it.

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