The Leyden and Stockholm Papyri - University of Cincinnati

7. Inexhaustible Stock
It is prepared by the procedures described in the doubling of asem.
If you wish to deduct 8 drachmas from the stock, separate them
and remelt with 4 drachmas of this same asem; melt these three
times and then repeat, then cool and place in reserve in the talc.
8. Manufacture of Asem
Take soft tin in small pieces, purified four times; take 4 parts of it
and 3 parts of pure white copper and 1 part of asem. Melt, and
after the casting, clean several times and make with it whatever
you wish to. It will be asem of the first quality, which will deceive
even the artisans.
The term, “white copper,” refers to a particular copper alloy. A
single word “Aes” was applied by the Ancients to both pure copper
and its alloys.
9. Manufacture of Fusible Asem
Copper of Cyprus 1 mina; tin in sticks, 1 mina; stone of Magnesia,
16 drachmas; mercury, 8 drachmas, stone of Paros, 20 drachmas.
Having melted the copper, throw the tin on it, then the stone of
Magnesia in powdered form, then the stone of Paros, and finally
the mercury; stir with an iron rod and pour at the desired time.
The island of Cyprus was an important source of copper in ancient
times and the metal from this source was considered then to be
of superior quality. “Stone of Paros” is mentioned by Pliny as
being a white, hard stone similar to the marble from this place.
10. Doubling of Asem
THE LEYDEN & STOCKHOLM PAPYRI
Take refined copper of Cyprus, throw upon it equal parts, that is, 4
drachmas of salt of Ammon and 4 drachmas of alum; melt and add
equal parts of asem.
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