electrum

electrum
/i lek"treuhm/, n.
1. an amber-colored alloy of gold and silver used in ancient times.
2. an alloy composed of about 50 percent copper, 30 percent nickel, and 20 percent zinc.
3. German silver; nickel silver.
[1350-1400; ME < L < Gk élektron amber, alloy of gold and silver]

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Natural or artificial alloy of gold with at least 20% silver, used to make the first known coins in the Western world.

Most natural electrum also contains copper, iron, palladium, bismuth, and perhaps other metals. The colour varies from white-gold to brassy, depending on the percentages of the major constituents and copper. The first Western coinage, possibly begun by King Gyges of Lydia (7th century BC), consisted of irregular ingots of electrum bearing his stamp as a guarantee of negotiability at a predetermined value. See also coinage.

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alloy
      natural or artificial alloy of gold with at least 20 percent silver, which was used to make the first known coins (coin) in the Western world. Most natural electrum contains copper, iron, palladium, bismuth, and perhaps other metals. The colour varies from white-gold to brassy, depending on the percentages of the major constituents and copper. In the ancient world the chief source was Lydia, in Asia Minor, where the alloy was found in the area of the Pactolus River, a small tributary of the Hermus (modern Gediz Nehri, in Turkey). The first Occidental coinage, possibly begun by King Gyges (7th century BC) of Lydia, consisted of irregular ingots of electrum bearing his stamp as a guarantee of negotiability at a predetermined value.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • électrum — [ elɛktrɔm ] n. m. • 1549; électron av. 1530; lat. electrum, gr. êlektron, par anal. de couleur avec l ambre ♦ Archéol. Alliage naturel d or et d argent estimé dans l Antiquité. ● électrum nom masculin (bas latin electrum, du grec êlektron, ambre …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Electrum — Électrum Pièce lydienne en électrum (avant le VIe siècle av. J. C.). L’électrum[1] est un alliage compos …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ELECTRUM — Graecis Ἤλεκτρον, vox est ἐκ τῶ πολλὰ σημαινουσῶν. Apud Aristophan. enim Equit. Ἐκπιπτουσῶν τῶ ἠλεκτρων, καὶ τȏυ τόνου οὐκέτ᾿ ενόντος, Ἤλεκτραclavi sunt ex electro, quibus muniebantur pedes lectorum. Electrum enim spuma auri seu purgamentum… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • electrum — ELÉCTRUM s.n. Aur nativ care conţine o mare cantitate de argint, de culoare galben deschis până la albă argintie, maleabil şi ductil. – Din fr. électrum. Trimis de LauraGellner, 12.06.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  eléctrum s. n. Trimis de siveco,… …   Dicționar Român

  • Electrum — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda La palabra Electrum tuvo dos significados en la antigüedad: Una aleación de oro y plata, en proporción aproximada de 4:1, similar al actual oro blanco. El ámbar, conocido por los griegos desde la época homérica.… …   Wikipedia Español

  • electrum — alloy of gold and up to 40% silver, late 14c. (in O.E. elehtre), from L. electrum alloy of gold and silver, also amber (see ELECTRIC (Cf. electric)). So called probably for its pale yellow color …   Etymology dictionary

  • Electrum — E*lec trum, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?. See {Electric}, and cf. {Electre}, {Electron}.] 1. Amber. [1913 Webster] 2. An alloy of gold and silver, of an amber color, used by the ancients. [1913 Webster] 3. German silver plate. See {German silver}, under… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Electrum — (lat.), 1) Bernstein; 2) Metall, aus 4/5 Gold u. 1/5 Silber bestehend; jetzt 3) Metall, enthält gediegen Gold (64) u. Silber (36); kommt in würfeligen Krystallen zackig u. in Blättchen vor; hat messinggelbe Farbe, findet sich in Sibirien,… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Electrum — Electrum, s. Elektrum …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • electrum — [ē lek′trəm, ilek′trəm] n. [L < Gr ēlektron: see ELECTRIC] a light yellow alloy of gold and silver …   English World dictionary

  • Electrum — NOTOC Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. Colour ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver. Gold content of naturally occurring… …   Wikipedia

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