The Leyden and Stockholm Papyri - University of Cincinnati

ing of fine appearance. Here is the preparation for this. Gold and
lead are ground to a fine powder like flour, 2 parts of lead for 1 of
gold, then having mixed, they are incorporated with gum, and one
coats the ring with this mixture; then it is heated. One repeats this
several times until the object has taken the color. It is difficult to
detect (the fraud), because rubbing gives the mark of a gold object,
and the heat consumes the lead but not the gold.
39. Writing in Letters of Gold
Letters of gold: saffron (and) bile of a river tortoise.
40. Manufacture of Asem
Take white tin, finely divided, (and) purify it four times; then take 4
parts of it, and a fourth part of pure white copper and 1 part of
asem (and) melt: when the mixture has been melted, sprinkle it
with the greatest possible quantity of salt, and make what you wish
with it, either by hammering or by any way you please. The metal
will be equal to true asem, so much so as to deceive even the artisans.
41. Another (Procedure)
Silver, 2 parts; purified tin, 3 parts; cooper, (?) drachmas; melt,
then remove and clean; put in use for works of silver the best kind.
42. Coating of Copper
If you desire that the copper shall have the appearance of silver;
after having purified the copper with care, place it in mercury and
white lead; mercury alone suffices for coating it.
43. Testing of Gold
THE LEYDEN & STOCKHOLM PAPYRI
If you wish to test the purity of gold, remelt it and heat it: if it is
pure it will keep its color after heating and remain like a piece of
money. If it becomes white, it contains silver; if it becomes rougher
and harder, some copper and tin; if it blackens and softens, lead.
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