Įlectrum 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. 600 BC in Lydia during the reign of Alyattes. Electrum is believed to have been used in coins c. The earliest known electrum coins, Lydian and East Greek coins found under the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, are currently dated to the last quarter of the 7th century BC (625–600 BC). It is also discussed by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia. 1080 A mummified male head covered in electrum, from Ancient Egypt, Roman period, 2nd century AD ( Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon)Įlectrum is mentioned in an account of an expedition sent by Pharaoh Sahure of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. History Lydian electrum coin (one-third stater), one of the oldest known coins, early 6th century BC Electrum coin of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus, c. In the later Eastern Roman Empire controlled from Constantinople, the purity of the gold coinage was reduced, and an alloy that can be called electrum began to be used. In the Hellenistic period, electrum coins with a regularly decreasing proportion of gold were issued by the Carthaginians. In later coinage from these areas, dating to 326 BC, the gold content averaged 40% to 41%. In the early classical period, the gold content of electrum ranged from 46% in Phokaia to 43% in Mytilene. Analysis 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 Phocaea. The name is mostly applied informally to compositions between about 20–80% gold and 20–80% silver, but these are strictly called gold or silver depending on the dominant element. The modern use of the term white gold usually concerns gold alloyed with any one or a combination of nickel, silver, platinum and palladium to produce a silver-colored gold.Įlectrum consists primarily of gold and silver but is sometimes found with traces of platinum, copper, and other metals. Electrum was often referred to as " white gold" in ancient times, but could be more accurately described as "pale gold", as it is usually pale yellow or yellowish-white in color. It is from amber’s electrostatic properties that the modern English words "electron" and "electricity" are derived. The same word was also used for the substance amber, likely because of the pale yellow color of certain varieties. The name "electrum" is the Latinized form of the Greek word ἤλεκτρον ( ḗlektron), mentioned in the Odyssey referring to a metallic substance consisting of gold alloyed with silver. For several decades, the medals awarded with the Nobel Prize have been made of gold-plated green gold. The first known metal coins made were of electrum, dating back to the end of the 7th century or the beginning of the 6th century BC. It was also used in the making of ancient drinking vessels. Įlectrum was used as early as the third millennium BC in Old Kingdom of Egypt, sometimes as an exterior coating to the pyramidions atop ancient Egyptian pyramids and obelisks. It has been produced artificially, and is also known as " green gold". Its color ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver. 625–600 BC ( Louvre)Įlectrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. Natural electrum "wires" on quartz, historic specimen from the old Smuggler-Union Mine, Telluride, Colorado, USA The Pactolus river, from which Lydia obtained electrum for its early coinage Electrum cup with mythological scenes, a sphinx frieze and the representation of a king vanquishing his enemies, Cypro-Archaic I, from Idalion, 8th–7th centuries BC ( Louvre, Paris) Brooch with a griffin protome, from the necropolis of Kameiros, Rhodes, c. For the Israeli figure, see Zvika Greengold. "Green gold" and "Greengold" redirect here.
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