256
BOOK VII.
The ist of 12 duellae of gold and 12 duellae of copper.
2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10 thnth12th13th
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
pure gold.
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
These needles are not much used, because gold coins of that kind aresomewhat rare ; the ones chiefly used are those in which there is muchcopper. Needles of the third kind, which are composed of gold, silver, andcopper, are more largely used, because such gold coins are common. But sincewith the gold there are mixed equal or unequal portions of silver and copper,two sorts of needles are made. If the proportion of silver and copper isequal, the needles are as follows :—
Gold.
Silver.
Copper.
The
ist of
12 duellae
6
duellae
0 sextula
6 duellae
0 sextula
t
2nd
))
13 ..
5
»
1
5
j t
1
ft
3rd
t
14
5
it
5
y t
y >
4th
t
15
4
y t
1
4
i t
1
a
5th
y>
16 ,,
4
t
4
t y
y t
61I1
tt
17 M
3
it
1
3
11
1
t y
7th
y }
l8
3
ti
3
a
r y
8th
t y
19 -
2
a
1
2
i t
1
a
9th
y
20
2
t>
2
i t
1 y
10th
t
21
1
t
1
1
i i
1
i i
nth
y
22
1
t
1
11
11
12th
y
23
1
i
11
13th
>
pure gold.
Some make twenty-five needles, in order to be able to detect the twoscripula of silver or copper which are in a bes of gold. Of these needles, thefirst is composed of twelve duellae of gold and six of silver, and the samenumber of copper. The second, of twelve duellae and one sextula of gold, andfive duellae and one and a half sextulae of silver, and the same number ofduellae and one and a half sextulae of copper. The remaining needles aremade in the same proportion. ,
Pliny is our authority that the Romans could tell to within one scripulumhow much gold was in any given alloy, and how much silver or copper.
Needles maybe made in either of two ways, namety, in the ways of whichI have spoken, and in the ways of which I am now about to speak. If