Coin mat's information

I know I could with enough research find out what each of these things mean, but I think it would be a little more... wordy, and harder to grasp rather than to just ask someone who already knows.

What do the following mean, or consist of, and any info on process used to do so helps too, and were they good to use, why or why not?

Billion
Gilt (Golden gilt specifically)
Roentgenium
Electrum
Orichalcum

It's Billon, not Billion. It refers to a coin with a very low silver content. Scottish Bawbees and the Swiss coins of 1850 are the only examples I can think of but I'm sure there are more. Oddly enough you never see the term applied to modern coins such as the 10% silver Morelo Pesos of which I am very very fond.

Electrum is a mixture of gold and silver.

No clue about the others.

Quote: pnightingaleIt's Billon, not Billion. It refers to a coin with a very low silver content. Scottish Bawbees and the Swiss coins of 1850 are the only examples I can think of but I'm sure there are more. Oddly enough you never see the term applied to modern coins such as the 10% silver Morelo Pesos of which I am very very fond.

Electrum is a mixture of gold and silver.

No clue about the others.

Are you referring to the 1957-1967 pesos? I bought 100 of those for $120.00 all in varying qualities, but I couldn't pass it up, for 1.20 each I lose 11 cents on just silver value, but they have to have numismatic value over silver bug value, if not now then in time, they must appreciate I hope.

Quote: BarnabusAre you referring to the 1957-1967 pesos?

Yes Sir!

I keep two large stacks of them on my desk. I do a fair bit of writing and I find it helps with the thinking process to pass them from hand to hand with that reassuringly dull clink. My wife knows not to disturb me with any domestic nonsense when I have these coins and my hand and I'm wearing my thinking hat.

Yes, I am eccentric but mostly harmless.

Yes billon is a low grade of silver.  Ususally 40% silver mixed with copper.  US war nickels, early swiss rappens, Swedish 10 ore - 1 Krone coins from the 1940s-1960s, some indian princely states coins, and some mexican and US coins could all be described as billon.

gilt I'm assuming to mean gold plated

Orichalcum is a gold coloured bronze alloy used in roman sestertius coins

As Phil pointed out, Electrum is a mix of gold and silver

I have no idea what the last one is but you can probably look it up somewhere online.

Roentgenium is a radioactive element with, for the most stable known isotope, a half-life of 26 seconds. 283Rg is expected to have a half-life of 10 minutes.

Quote: ZuluRaptorSpaceRoentgenium is a radioactive element with, for the most stable known isotope, a half-life of 26 seconds. 283Rg is expected to have a half-life of 10 minutes.

Ineresting, although I'm not sure what it has to do with coins?

Quote: neilithic

Quote: ZuluRaptorSpaceRoentgenium is a radioactive element with, for the most stable known isotope, a half-life of 26 seconds. 283Rg is expected to have a half-life of 10 minutes.

Ineresting, although I'm not sure what it has to do with coins?

I read somewhere that it was used for some process in making coins some time long ago?

thank you all for the great information. So all those coins made from Billion that I thought were silver, actually have some in it!! I knew it!!! They definitely had a silver tone, or sound when I flipped them. I notice a lot of things about silver collecting coins. The smell, the sound, the texture, the color, the taste, (lol don't ask)

Quote: BarnabusThey definitely had a silver tone, or sound when I flipped them. I notice a lot of things about silver collecting coins. The smell, the sound, the texture, the color, the taste, (lol don't ask)

I can smell copper.

Quote: BarnabusThe smell, the sound, the texture, the color, the taste, (lol don't ask)

I really, really hope that you don't collect Lazereto coins.

The Swedish Ore coins are good ones to find.  They're 40% silver but most people don't realise it because they were in circulation in the 1940s-60s when most countries had gotten rid of silver out of their coins.  The last bulk lot of coins I picked up from my coin guy had around 8-10 of them. 10 ore, 25 ore, 50 ore and 1 krona.  Keep an eye out for them

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces2787.html
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1510.html

Quote: pnightingale

Quote: BarnabusThe smell, the sound, the texture, the color, the taste, (lol don't ask)

I really, really hope that you don't collect Lazereto coins.

what are those, and why not?

Quote: Barnabuswhat are those, and why not?

Coins used in Leper colonies. you can probably work out the "why not" from there  

Coins struck specially for use in Leper Colonies. People didn't want lepers passing on the disease by handling regular coins so various governments issued coins with the same denomination as normal coins.

Pretty fascinating but a real bear to collect. I still only have two different ones after a year or so of half hearted collecting.

Most were melted down as the colonies were closed.

Quote: pnightingaleCoins struck specially for use in Leper Colonies. People didn't want lepers passing on the disease by handling regular coins so various governments issued coins with the same denomination as normal coins.

Pretty fascinating but a real bear to collect. I still only have two different ones after a year or so of half hearted collecting.

Most were melted down as the colonies were closed.

Wow, crazy!! History has some dark times.

Sounds like something used on North Brother Island, (The home of the one and only Typhoid Mary)

I will clarify on taste of silver, I go to lots of thrift stores to pick up some silver dishes and such, All to add to my pirate chest I am making. And the tools I take with me are a pointed hand file, a small purell bottle of bleach, a magnet, and my taste buds.

First I drop magnet at it, no stick = good sign
Second, I run file over a thin edge, Silver color through= good sign
third, I take a little of the dust from where I filed and touch my finger to it, and tap the tip of my tongue, metallic silvery taste (Acquired) = great sign
Lastly dab bleach on item, black color = Silver item if passed all other tests,


as of late though, I cannot get to the thrift stores before the older people, and As well, Employees there are now instructed to price items HIGH as hell if they think they are valuable. EX: Was at a Goodwill last week, found a nice little cup, about 50mm opening, like a cream holder. Passes all tests, I take to register, they say $99.00 please. I said WERTF, this was a DONATION, how can you charge so much, even if it is silver, I do not see any significant silversmith mark on it! you are crazy! I talk to manager, and they say they must profit as much as they can...... Shame when a thrift store charges higher than value of item.... Noble idea in beginning, and now just crooks like most other corps.

Your right asking someone who knew would have been less wordy

From Wikipedia

Billon  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.

I dont suggest your taste test on a Billon coin in case it is Mercury


The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"



Roentgenium is a chemical element with the symbol Rg and atomic number 111. It is an extremely radioactive synthetic element (an element that can be created in a laboratory but is not found in nature); the most stable known isotope, roentgenium-281, has a half-life of 26 seconds. Roentgenium was first created in 1994 by the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research near Darmstadt, Germany. It is named after the physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (also spelled Roentgen).

Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. It has also been produced artificially, and is often known as green gold. The ancient Greeks called it 'gold' or 'white gold', as opposed to 'refined gold'. Its colour ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver.
Electrum is believed to have been used in coins circa 600 BC in Lydia under the reign of Alyattes II.

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.

Orichalcum is the golden-colored bronze alloy used for the sestertius and dupondius coins. In many sources of pop culture, such as novels and video games, orichalcum is presented as a valuable ore that can be mined and crafted into powerful armor and weapons.