Ron,

Seriously, am I the only one that noted that your story was 
completely unbelievable?  Or did I miss something?

(1) Platinum has NEVER been called alum.
(2) Platinum is heavy, in the range of gold, silver and lead.
(3) Platinum has been a precious metal FOREVER ... Czarist Russian 
coins of the highest values were platinum and so is/was much high end 
jewelry.

The fake coins you found, if that's what they were, were made of 
aluminum or some zinc-based white metal.  The story you got from your 
father was completely bogus.

No offense intended.

Mark

-- 

Mark C. Branstner
Historic Archaeologist

Illinois Transportation
Archaeological Research Program
209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
23 East Stadium Drive
Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217.244.0892
Fax: 217.244.7458
Cell: 517.927.4556
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"There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth,
without either virtue or talents ... The artificial aristocracy is a
mischievous ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to
prevent its ascendancy."

- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)