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Copper in Antiquity
Copper was probably the first metal used by ancient cultures, and the oldest artefacts made with it date to the Neolithic period. The shiny red-brown metal was used for jewellery, tools, sculpture, bells, vessels, lamps, amulets, and death...
Definition
Orichalcum
Orichalcum ("mountain copper") or aurichalcum ("gold copper") was a metal used in coins during ancient times. Orichalcum was a golden-yellow coloured mixture consisting of both copper and zinc and referred to as brass. The Romans were the...
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Copper 'Oxhide' Ingot, Uluburun Shipwreck
A copper "oxhide" ingot from the Bronze Age Uluburun shipwreck, 1330-1300 BCE. The ship sank off the coast of Lycia and contained, amongst other cargo, ten tons of copper ingots. (Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Turkey)
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Complaint about Delivery of the Wrong Grade of Copper
This clay tablet was a letter from a person named Nanni to another one, Ea-nasir. The former complained that the wrong grade of copper ore has been delivered after a gulf (modern-day Arabic/Persian Gulf) voyage and that there was a misdirection...
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Copper Coin of the East India Company
A copper coin minted by the British East India Company (EIC). From Bombay, 1821.
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Copper Follis of Anastasios I
A Byzantine copper coin, the follis, from the reign of Anastasios I, 491-518 CE. (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com)
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Copper Curency Ingot, Luba Kingdom
A copper cross used as a currency by such central African states as the Kingdom of Luba (15-19th century CE). Height: 19.5 cm. (British Museum, London)
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Copper Coin Depicting Roma
A copper coin depicting the goddess Roma, a personification of Rome, or the war goddess Bellona on the obverse. On the reverse, the prow of a ship and the title "ROMA". Minted in Rome c. 217-215 BCE. (British Museum)
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Copper Coin of Dioscurias, Colchis
Copper. The weight range: chalkos e.g. – 1,3-3,1 gr., dichalkon e.g. – 3,7-5 gr., tetrachalkon e.g. – 6,1 gr. d≈14 mm. Obverse: Caps of Dioscuri, surmounted by six, or eight-pointed stars. Reverse: Thyrsos of Dionysus, i.e. of Mithridates...
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Copper Coins Struck in Vani (Colchis)
Copper. The weights range: hemichalkon – 0,8 gr.-1,1 gr., chalkos – 1,2 gr.-2,1 gr. d=12-13/14-15 mm. for hemichalkon, d=11/13-16 mm. for chalkos. Obverse: Stylized effigy of lotus – Isis’ decoration. Reverse: Eight-pointed star...