A few years back I purchased a lead disk from a seller in Spain
45mm 85.24 grams
It has some ancient rasp marks on one edge and from appearance was poured into a mold
I bought it as a curiosity (impulse !)
I assumed it to be an ingot from either a mining operation or even from an ancient mint
Roman era bronze had a very high lead content and I have been told that adding lead to the alloy actually hardens it (not softens)
Late Roman bronzes are often fractured due to the evaporation of zinc from continuous recycling and the addition of even more lead
A quick google search shows both Spain and Britain as the primary sources of Roman lead
http://factsanddetails.com/world/ca...tem2050.html
Posted 05/27/2019 7:47 pm
