Glass and metal analyses of gold leaf tesserae from 1st to 9th century mosaics. A contribution to technological and chronological knowledge

The analyses of the gold leaves indicate the use of pure gold or of gold-silver alloys. The good matches between the compositions of the gold leaves and the analyses of contemporary gold coins in the late antique and byzantine samples (3rd-9th c.) suggest that the leaves were made by beating circulating gold coins. This, in some cases, can help the dating of the tesserae and a more precise information on the type of glass used in this period.