Billon (alloy)

Billon /ˈbɪlən/ is an alloy of a precious metal (most commonly silver, but also mercury) with a majority base metal content (such as copper). It is used chiefly for making coins, medals, and token coins.

The word comes from the French bille, which means "log".[1]

Description

Billon bawbee coin of James V of Scotland.

The use of billon coins dates from ancient Greece and continued through the Middle Ages. During the sixth and fifth centuries BC, some cities on Lesbos used coins made of 60% copper and 40% silver. In both ancient times and the Middle Ages, leaner mixtures were adopted, with less than 2% silver content.[2][3]

Billon coins are perhaps best known from the Roman Empire, where progressive debasements of the Roman denarius and the Roman provincial tetradrachm in the second century AD led to declining silver and increasing bronze content in these denominations of coins. Eventually, by the third quarter of the second century AD, these coins were almost entirely bronze, with only a thin coating or even a wash of silver.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Billon". Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  2. ↑ Harl, Dr. Kenneth (1998-03-19). "Early Medieval and Byzantine Civilization: Constantine to Crusades". tulane.edu. Archived from the original on 2009-10-15. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  3. ↑ Munro, John (Jan 15, 2007). "Review of Earl J. Hamilton, American Treasure and the Price Revolution in Spain, 1501-1650". EH.Net Economic History Services. Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  4. ↑ Erik Christiansen, Coinage in Roman Egypt: The Hoard Evidence (Aarhus University Press, 2004) 135-141.
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