24 STATER OF PHILIP OF MACEDON * 



found in minerals containing it, 1 am now certain, that na- 

 ture likewise presents us with it of the greatest fineness, and 

 even perfectly pure. This is what I purposed to show by 

 this new tact,' in writing this little essay, as a present to the 

 lovers of miueralogy and antiquities. 



Notes on the precediitg Paper by Mr. D'Arcet* Verifier of 

 Assays at the Mint of France. 



Pin 'ste ti- O) P un y sav8 * k°°k 33, that there is no gold more pure 

 monjr. than that obtaiued from the sands of rivers; and that all 



gold obtained by arrugiae has no occasion to" be melted,' 

 being pure native gold. But Pliny says in the same book, 

 that lead is more malleable and heavier than gold, which i* 

 a mistake, and proves, that the gold considered by Pliny ai. 

 pure was an alloy. He says also farther on, that all gold is 

 mixed with silver ; and that the freest from silver known is 

 the gold of Albicrare in Gaul, which contained but a thirty* 

 sixth* : whence it follows, that the testimony of Pliny to 

 this point is of no weight, and that we must appeal to ex- 

 periment. 

 Analysis of an (2) I delivered to Mr. Mongez the analysis of an ancient 

 ancient coin coin with the effigies of Philip, wriioh proves, that in his 

 * ' lp * reign coins were made of alloys, the composition of which 

 was native, or at least unknown ; for this piece contained 



Silver -•• *.. 368 



Gold »»•••»•••••••*•••••••••• 184 



Copper ••••••••••••»••••••••• 448 



1000. 



It is not probable, that the regulations of the mint re- 

 quired such or so complex an alloy, at a time when the 

 methods of analysis or assay were but approximations ; and 

 when they were unquestionably far from the accuracy, that 

 may be obtained even by employing only the touchstone, 

 touchneedles, and prepared acid, used at present. 

 The art of as- (3) The art of assaying was as far as possible from perfect 

 the'anci«nu g in tnose rcmote P e «ods. Under the «mperors even the fine- 



* He speaks cf other gold containing a tenth, a ninth, and ev«n art 

 ^Uhpart. C •' 



ncs* 



