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Electrum consists primarily of gold and silver but is sometimes found with traces of platinum, copper and other metals. The name is mostly applied informally to compositions between 20–80% gold and 80–20% silver, but these are strictly called gold or silver depending on the dominant element. Analysis
485:
Because of variation in the composition of electrum, it was difficult to determine the exact worth of each coin. Widespread trading was hampered by this problem, as the intrinsic value of each electrum coin could not be easily determined. This suggests that one reason for the invention of coinage in
415:
Electrum was much better for coinage than gold, mostly because it was harder and more durable, but also because techniques for refining gold were not widespread at the time. The gold content of naturally occurring electrum in modern western
Anatolia ranges from 70% to 90%, in contrast to the 45–55%
416:
of gold in electrum used in ancient Lydian coinage of the same geographical area. This suggests that the
Lydians had already solved the refining technology for silver and were adding refined silver to the local native electrum some decades before introducing pure silver coins.
501:, coins of pure gold and silver, were introduced. However, electrum currency remained common until approximately 350 BC. The simplest reason for this was that, because of the gold content, one 14.1 gram stater was worth as much as ten 14.1 gram silver pieces.
539:
238:
are derived. Electrum was often referred to as "white gold" in ancient times but could be more accurately described as pale gold because it is usually pale yellow or yellowish-white in color. The modern use of the term
559:
434:(meaning "standard"). Three of these coins—with a weight of about 14.1 grams (0.50 oz)—totaled one stater, about one month's pay for a soldier. To complement the stater, fractions were made: the
508:
523:
146:
and other metals. Its color ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver. It has been produced artificially and is also known as "
821:
681:
266:
of the composition of electrum in ancient Greek coinage dating from about 600 BC shows that the gold content was about 55.5% in the coinage issued by
482:
stater was about 0.14 grams (0.0049 oz) to 0.15 grams (0.0053 oz). Larger denominations, such as a one stater coin, were minted as well.
1094:
404:, are currently dated to the last quarter of the 7th century BC (625–600 BC). Electrum is believed to have been used in coins c. 600 BC in
507:
848:
1844:
780:
88:
with mythological scenes, a sphinx frieze and the representation of a king vanquishing his enemies, Cypro-Archaic I, from
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722:
64:
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1141:
963:
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841:
372:
52:
606:– another distinct metal or alloy mentioned in texts from classical antiquity, later used to refer to brass
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85:
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made were of electrum, dating back to the end of the 7th century or the beginning of the 6th century BC.
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321:
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27:
282:. In later coinage from these areas, dating to 326 BC, the gold content averaged 40% to 41%. In the
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595:- A 22 carat gold alloy highly valued for its use in gold coins from the 16th century onwards
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In Lydia, electrum was minted into coins weighing 4.7 grams (0.17 oz), each valued at
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1300:
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80:
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Natural electrum "wires" on quartz, historic specimen from the old
Smuggler-Union Mine,
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376:. It is also mentioned in the Bible, in the first chapter of the book of the prophet
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222:, likely because of the pale yellow color of certain varieties. It is from amber’s
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electrum coins with a regularly decreasing proportion of gold were issued by the
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Coins, Bodies, Games, and Gold: The
Politics of Meaning in Archaic Greece
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685:. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 252.
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589:– a highly prized alloy in antiquity that may have contained electrum
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Electrum is mentioned in an account of an expedition sent by
Pharaoh
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usually concerns gold alloyed with any one or a combination of
41:"Green gold" and "Greengold" redirect here. For the color, see
30:. For the particle consisting of a positron and electron, see
26:
This article is about the metal alloy. For the sculpture, see
153:
Electrum was used as early as the third millennium BC in the
826:
822:
An image of the obverse of a Lydian coin made of electrum
817:
Electrum lion coins of the ancient
Lydians (about 600 BC)
497:
These difficulties were eliminated circa 570 BC when the
715:
Nature's building blocks: an A–Z guide to the elements
317:), one of the oldest known coins, early 6th century BC
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210:, referring to a metallic substance consisting of
621:of gold and copper with a dark blue-purple patina
799:New archaic coin finds at Sardis, AJA 109 (2005)
346:A mummified male head covered in electrum, from
274:the gold content of electrum ranged from 46% in
218:. The same word was also used for the substance
773:The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage
842:
627:– another Japanese alloy known for its patina
298:the purity of the gold coinage was reduced
8:
741:. Princeton University Press. pp. 6–7.
172:. It was also used in the making of ancient
775:. Oxford University Press. pp. 49–50.
486:that area was to increase the profits from
1219:
1028:
849:
835:
827:
492:issuing currency with a lower gold content
157:, sometimes as an exterior coating to the
226:properties that the modern English words
665:
663:
659:
637:or "thunderbolt iron" commonly used in
503:
76:obtained electrum for its early coinage
762:
760:
758:
646:– a similar material, originating in
494:than the commonly circulating metal.
7:
388:The earliest known electrum coins,
257:to produce a silver-colored gold.
14:
769:"Asia Minor to the Ionian Revolt"
442:(sixth), and so forth, including
771:. In Metcalf, William E. (ed.).
558:
538:
522:
506:
350:, Roman period, 2nd century AD (
452:of a stater, and even down to
45:. For the Israeli figure, see
1:
796:Cahill, Nick; Kroll, John H.
570:
333:
113:
352:Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon
717:. Oxford University Press.
1878:
676:"Electrum, Electron"
553:, early–mid 4th century BC
366:. It is also discussed by
40:
25:
18:
1845:Coinage metals and alloys
1786:
313:electrum coin (one-third
130:is a naturally occurring
108:, from the necropolis of
176:. The first known metal
142:, with trace amounts of
92:, 8th–7th centuries BC (
34:. For the gemstone, see
19:Not to be confused with
16:Alloy of gold and silver
1351:Nickel silver (alpacca)
682:Encyclopædia Britannica
735:Kurke, Leslie (1999).
396:coins found under the
364:Fifth Dynasty of Egypt
355:
339:
318:
124:
104:Brooch with a griffin
97:
77:
61:
1850:Precious metal alloys
1692:Other natural objects
767:Konuk, Koray (2012).
648:Pre-Columbian America
345:
325:Electrum coin of the
324:
309:
103:
83:
67:
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1167:Wire wrapped jewelry
1147:Repoussé and chasing
713:Emsley, John (2003)
408:during the reign of
292:Eastern Roman Empire
204:), mentioned in the
155:Old Kingdom of Egypt
28:Electrum (sculpture)
1709:Ebonite (vulcanite)
802:. pp. 609–614.
545:Electrum coin from
513:Electrum coin from
58:Telluride, Colorado
1054:Jewellery designer
529:Electrum trite of
373:Naturalis Historia
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330:Alexius I Comnenus
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587:Corinthian bronze
565:Electrum stater,
531:Alyattes of Lydia
472:of a stater. The
398:Temple of Artemis
327:Byzantine Emperor
117: 625–600 BC
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1271:Britannia silver
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532:
525:
520:
516:
509:
504:
502:
500:
495:
493:
489:
483:
441:
438:(third), the
437:
433:
432:
417:
413:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
391:
384:Early coinage
383:
381:
379:
375:
374:
369:
365:
361:
353:
349:
348:Ancient Egypt
344:
331:
328:
323:
316:
312:
308:
301:
299:
297:
293:
289:
288:Carthaginians
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
260:
258:
256:
252:
248:
244:
243:
237:
236:
231:
230:
225:
224:electrostatic
221:
217:
214:alloyed with
213:
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208:
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183:
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107:
102:
95:
91:
87:
82:
75:
71:
66:
59:
54:
48:
44:
37:
33:
29:
22:
1819:Wearable art
1814:Phaleristics
1809:Metalworking
1714:Gutta-percha
1490:Lapis lazuli
1285:
1276:Colored gold
1157:Stonesetting
798:
791:
772:
737:
730:
709:
700:
691:
680:
533:, 610–560 BC
517:, 620–600 BC
496:
484:
439:
435:
429:
418:
414:
390:Lydian coins
387:
371:
357:
264:
240:
233:
227:
205:
201:
196:form of the
189:
187:
152:
127:
126:
43:Green-yellow
1756:Art jewelry
1580:Tiger's eye
1485:Labradorite
1435:Chrysocolla
1430:Chrysoberyl
1346:Mokume-gane
1323:Base metals
1095:centrifugal
1064:Silversmith
939:Ferronnière
889:Belt buckle
884:Belly chain
488:seigniorage
337: 1080
261:Composition
235:electricity
159:pyramidions
32:Positronium
1834:Categories
1590:Tourmaline
1535:Prasiolite
1410:Aventurine
1281:Crown gold
1183:Draw plate
1132:Metal clay
1069:Watchmaker
1059:Lapidarist
1044:Clockmaker
919:Collar pin
914:Chatelaine
748:0691007365
723:0198503407
654:References
610:Panchaloha
604:Orichalcum
593:Crown gold
394:East Greek
278:to 43% in
249:, silver,
242:white gold
148:green gold
112:, Rhodes,
1736:Toadstone
1673:Operculum
1600:Variscite
1595:Turquoise
1575:Tanzanite
1510:Moonstone
1505:Marcasite
1500:Malachite
1425:Carnelian
1400:Amazonite
1387:gemstones
1361:Pinchbeck
1306:Argentium
1296:Shibuichi
1237:Palladium
1216:Materials
1152:Soldering
1142:Polishing
1117:Engraving
1112:Enameling
1078:Processes
1049:Goldsmith
984:Tie chain
959:Neck ring
949:Lapel pin
858:Jewellery
697:"Coinage"
625:Shibuichi
599:Hepatizon
499:Croeseids
255:palladium
194:Latinized
188:The name
184:Etymology
84:Electrum
1804:Gemology
1778:Fineness
1769:(purity)
1704:Bog-wood
1651:Precious
1631:Ammolite
1570:Sunstone
1560:Sodalite
1555:Sapphire
1515:Obsidian
1455:Fluorite
1445:Diopside
1405:Amethyst
1385:Mineral
1376:Tungsten
1371:Titanium
1286:Electrum
1242:Platinum
1127:Kazaziye
1122:Filigree
1100:lost-wax
999:Toe ring
989:Tie clip
964:Pectoral
954:Necklace
929:Cufflink
904:Bracelet
899:Bolo tie
879:Barrette
725:. p. 168
581:See also
567:Carthage
410:Alyattes
280:Mytilene
251:platinum
229:electron
202:ḗlektron
190:electrum
170:obelisks
166:pyramids
128:Electrum
110:Kameiros
96:, Paris)
70:Pactolus
21:Electron
1799:Fashion
1773:Finding
1621:Abalone
1530:Peridot
1495:Larimar
1480:Kyanite
1465:Howlite
1450:Emerald
1440:Diamond
1313:Tumbaga
1291:Shakudō
1247:Rhodium
1198:Mandrel
1137:Plating
1090:Casting
1085:Carving
994:Tie pin
969:Pendant
944:Genital
934:Earring
644:Tumbaga
631:Thokcha
615:Shakudō
547:Cyzicus
515:Ephesus
477:⁄
467:⁄
457:⁄
447:⁄
424:⁄
402:Ephesus
378:Ezekiel
370:in his
362:of the
302:History
276:Phokaia
268:Phocaea
207:Odyssey
192:is the
106:protome
90:Idalion
1855:Silver
1763:(mass)
1699:Bezoar
1605:Zircon
1565:Spinel
1540:Quartz
1475:Jasper
1460:Garnet
1356:Pewter
1341:Copper
1336:Bronze
1263:alloys
1252:Silver
1203:Pliers
1193:Hammer
1105:vacuum
1032:People
1025:Making
1009:pocket
909:Brooch
874:Anklet
779:
745:
721:
619:billon
431:stater
360:Sahure
315:stater
311:Lydian
247:nickel
216:silver
144:copper
140:silver
121:Louvre
94:Louvre
1767:Carat
1761:Carat
1749:Terms
1724:Shell
1678:Pearl
1668:Nacre
1658:Ivory
1646:Black
1641:Coral
1636:Copal
1626:Amber
1585:Topaz
1544:smoky
1415:Beryl
1395:Agate
1331:Brass
1176:Tools
1014:strap
1004:Watch
979:Tiara
924:Crown
894:Bindi
866:Forms
639:Tibet
551:Mysia
440:hekte
436:trite
406:Lydia
220:amber
198:Greek
178:coins
161:atop
132:alloy
74:Lydia
60:, USA
36:Amber
1840:Gold
1719:Hair
1550:Ruby
1525:Opal
1520:Onyx
1470:Jade
1232:Gold
1188:File
974:Ring
777:ISBN
743:ISBN
719:ISBN
462:and
392:and
253:and
232:and
212:gold
168:and
138:and
136:gold
68:The
1663:Jet
1419:red
490:by
400:at
380:.
150:".
134:of
1836::
757:^
699:.
679:.
662:^
571:c.
569:,
549:,
479:96
469:96
459:48
449:24
412:.
334:c.
332:,
114:c.
1546:)
1542:(
1421:)
1417:(
850:e
843:t
836:v
785:.
751:.
703:.
475:1
465:1
455:1
445:1
426:3
422:1
354:)
123:)
119:(
49:.
38:.
23:.
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