12/15/2023 0 Comments Weight of an electrum coin![]() ![]() Electrum is a naturally occurring mixture of gold and silver. In fact, he probably reigned in about 561-547BC, while the earliest coins known from this area, made from electrum, are from around 100 years earlier. It is often thought that the use of coins was started by the Lydian king Croesus. The first coins were probably invented because they were essentially more convenient pieces of bullion and, unlike relying on the exchange of common goods like grain they were non-perishable. In many parts of the world, however, the most trusted method of determining the purity of gold is still the touchstone. Another method is Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICP), in which the sample is vaporised and at these very high temperatures the elements can be identified by the spectrum produced. One method, X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), used today involves bombarding the sample with X-rays, which cause the metal to emit secondary X-rays characteristic of the elements present. This changed in the twentieth century with the introduction of modern methods. ![]() These ancient methods were used almost to the present day, but were improved over the years, with acids replacing salt for example.Īll these methods determined the gold content, but they did not establish the proportions of the silver and copper added, or identify any trace elements present. Again the difference between the weight of the original and its weight after the fire assay indicates the purity of the original gold. This forms silver chloride, which soaks into the brick dust, leaving the pure gold. When red hot, the salt vapour attacks the silver present in the gold. Thin sheets of the metal are heated in a pot containing salt and brick dust. Gold and silver are often found mixed together, and for this alloy “fire assay��? was used to determine the proportion of gold. But it was not generally used for measuring the purity of gold before the sixteenth century. The principles of determining the density of gold and silver relative to water (known as their “Specific Gravity��?) was famously discovered by the ancient Greek mathematician, Archimedes, in his Eureka moment around 250 BC. This match indicates that both are of the same purity. Then further streaks are made with pieces of gold with known amounts of silver (or copper) and the colours of the streaks are compared until an exact colour match to the unknown is obtained. A gold coin (of unknown purity) is rubbed against a dark stone creating a streak. The simplest and oldest tool to determine the purity of gold was the ‘touchstone’. Our concept of coinage relies on being able to guarantee the weight and purity of the metal in a coin. Lydian gold came from the river in which King Midas supposedly washed away his ability to turn all he touched into gold The Lydians minted coins of consistent weight and purity to speed up transactions. To establish its value metal was checked for purity and weighed. Before coins, payments were made with metal bullion or by barter. Coinage probably developed in Lydia because it was a trading centre and possessed large gold supplies. Electrum (gold and silver mixture) was used for the first coins, but coinage gained popularity when gold and silver coins were introduced. Lydia was renowned for its wealth and its last king, Croesus, was immortalized in the saying 'as rich as Croesus.'Ĭities and empires managed without coins for over 2000 years. The two deep impressions were created by a hammer, used to punch the image of the lion and bull into the blank coin. The lion on this coin is seen as a symbol of royalty. ![]() These are some of the world's first coins, produced in Lydia, western Turkey, over 2500 years ago. ![]()
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