BOOK XXXIV. II. 2-III. 5 



obtained from another stone also, called chalcitis,'* 

 copper ore ; this was however afterwards of ex- 

 ceptionally low value when a better copper was 

 found in other countries, and especially gold-copper,^ 

 which long maintained an outstanding quality and 

 popularity, but which for a long time now has not 

 been found, the ground being exhausted. The next 

 in quality was the Salhistius copper, occurring in the 

 Alpine region of Haute Savoie, though this also only 

 lasted a short time ; and after it came the Livia 

 copper in Gaul : each was named from the ov>ners 

 of the mines, the former from the friend of Augustus 

 and the latter from his vdfe. Livia copper also 

 quickly gave out : at all events it is found in very 

 small quantity. The highest reputation has now 

 gone to the ^Larius ^ copper, also called Cordova 

 copper; next to the Livia variety this kind most 

 readily absorbs cadmea and reproduces the excellence 

 of gold-copper in making sesterces and double-«5 

 pieces, the single as having to be content with its 

 proper Cyprus copper. That is the extent of the 

 high quality contained in natural bronze and copper. 

 IIL The remaining kinds are made artificially, 

 and wiW be described in their proper places, the 

 most distinguished sorts being indicated first of all. 

 Formerly copper used to be blended ^\nth a mixture 

 of gold and silver, and nevertheless artistry was 

 valued more highly than the metal; but nowadays 

 it is a doubtful point whether the workmanship or 

 the material is worse, and it is a surprising thing 

 that, though the prices paid for these works of art 

 have grown beyond all limit, the importance attached 

 to this craftsmanship of working in metals has 

 quite disappeared. For this, which formerly used 



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