The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 48, November 25, 2007, Article 21

VOCABULARY WORD: PINCHBECK

It's not exactly numismatic, but words relating to metals are
of interest to serious numismatists.  This week the "Word A Day"
list published this entry:

pinchbeck (PINCH-bek) noun

  An alloy of zinc and copper, used as imitation gold
  in jewelry.

adjective

  Counterfeit or spurious.

[After watchmaker Christopher Pinchbeck (1670-1732), who
invented it. It's ironic that today his name is a synonym
for something counterfeit but in his time his fame was
worldwide, not only as the inventor of this curious alloy
but also as a maker of musical clocks and orreries*.

The composition of this gold-like alloy was a closely-guarded
secret but it didn't prevent others from passing off articles
as if made from this alloy... faking fake gold!]

pinchbeck.html

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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