Gold in antiquity: Did you mean...?

In the Late Roman Period, precious metal that had been paid in tax was melted down into bars before being re-minted, to eliminate plated forgeries. Because local mint officials could be corrupt, the bars were stamped with the names of the...

5-6th century CE gold earrings from the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE - 668 CE) of south-eastern Korea. From a tomb in the Gyeongju area. National Treasure No. 52. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

Gold coin of Roman emperor Julian the Apostate (r. 361-363 CE), minted in Antiochia ad Orontem. British Museum, London.

A gold and garnet ring from Agrigento, Sicily, 3rd century BCE. (Archaeological Museum of Agrigento).

A beaten gold mask from the Nazca civilization of Peru, 200 BCE-500 CE. 18.4 x 20.5 cm. The mask may represent a shaman in transformational pose, a common motif in Nazca art. An alternative interpretation is that it represents the weeping...

A Mycenaean gold necklace from Dendra, 15-14th centuries BCE. (National Archaeological Museum, Athens)

A Mycenaean gold ring depicting a hunting scene. From Grave Circle A, Mycenae, 16th century BCE. (National Archaeological Museum, Athens)

Both earrings are placed in a mirror-image position, with the lower surfaces facing each other. Each earring is composed of nine lunar-shaped segments forming a flattened half- ball. The cuneiform signs run vertically from above downward...

Two gold solidus coins depicting Roman emperor Valens, r. 364-378 BCE. Provenance: north-west France. (Vannes Archaeological Museum, France)

Gold myrtle wreath from Macedonia, 4th century BCE. A religious symbol, also indicating social position, it was worn at public appearances, religious ceremonies and symposia, and accompanied its owner to the grave. Archaeological Museum...