Potin (also known as billon) is a

base metal A base metal is a common and inexpensive metal, as opposed to a precious metal such as gold or silver. In numismatics, coins often derived their value from the precious metal content; however, base metals have also been used in coins in the past ...

silver Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...

-like

alloy An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of a metal in the resulting material, such as electrical conductivity, ductili ...

used in coins. It is typically a mixture of

copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pink ...

, tin and

lead Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cut, ...

(in varying proportions) and it is debated whether any actual silver needs to be present. While the term ''billon'' is more commonly applied to ancient Roman coinage, ''potin'' is usually used for Greek or Celtic coinage.

Use in Celtic coinage

ESS-DFE710 Iron Age class I Potin (FindID 235690)

In 1890, so-called ''Potin lumps'' were found, of which the largest weighs , at the Prehistoric pile dwelling settlement '' Alpenquai'' in Zürich ( ''Vicus Turicum'') in Switzerland. The pieces consist of a large number of fused

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foo ...

coins, which are mixed with charcoal remnants. Some of the about 18,000 coins originate from the ''Eastern Gaul'', and others are of the ''Zürich'' type, that were assigned to the local ''

Helvetii The Helvetii ( , Gaulish: *''Heluētī''), anglicized as Helvetians, were a Celtic tribe or tribal confederation occupying most of the Swiss plateau at the time of their contact with the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC. According to Juliu ...

'', which date to around 100 BC. The find is so far unique, and the scientific research assumes that the melting down of the lump was not completed, therefore the aim was to form cult offerings. The site of the find was at that time at least from the lake shore, and probably to deep in the water.''Keltisches Geld in Zürich: Der spektakuläre «Potinklumpen»''. Amt für Städtebau der Stadt Zürich, Stadtarchäologie, Zürich October 2007.

Kentish cast bronzes Kentish may be used as a name: *Kentish Council is a local government area in Tasmania, Australia * Kentish Town is an area of north west London, England Kentish as a surname: *John Kentish (minister), 1768–1853 *John Kentish (tenor), 1910&n ...

(historically referred to as Thurrock potins) appear to have been the first coins made in Britain dating from the end of the second century BC. They appear to have circulated mainly in Kent and were based on coins issued by

Massalia Massalia ( Greek: Μασσαλία; Latin: Massilia; modern Marseille) was an ancient Greek colony founded ca. 600 BC on the Mediterranean coast of present-day France, east of the river Rhône, by Ionian Greek settlers from Phocaea, in Wester ...

(now Marseille).

References

Precious metal alloys Numismatic terminology Silver Coinage metals and alloys {{alloy-stub

Use in Celtic coinage

See also

References