"I developed critical-thinking skills and problem-solving skills and how to use the equipment," Brown said. "He was the real genius behind it, asking all the right questions and telling me when I'd gone wrong."

Rees has analyzed coins for the American Numismatic Association and is interested in the composition of older coins because the elements change over time.

While others have used microscopes and have studied the elements in coins, Rees believes Brown's work could be the start of some interesting research.

"He was able to establish some techniques useful in comparing the composition of silver and copper over time," the professor said. "I think we can create an interesting timeline."

For example, Rees said, if a coin made in 1900 hadn't lost copper, it would become immediately suspicious.

Brown is close to the typical BYU graduate in age, 25, turning 26 next month. The average grad in this August class, which will celebrate commencement exercises Thursday, is 25.6 years old.

Brown spent two years at BYU-Idaho before transferring to Provo for his final three years. He initially planned to enter a graduate program at Idaho State University to study nuclear engineering but has deferred school for a year to take a job in Orem as a computer programmer.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com