chemical rust treatment, alchemy

[richsc]

I am not too sure how much chemical knowledge the Romans had, and not too sure where to look for sources. The idea of chemically protecting iron from rust using chemicals, especially something called "jeweler's pickle" , seems to be a low tech means of putting an anti-oxidation anti-rust coat on iron. I'll be trying this out, trying to add a coat (if you can call it that) of copper to iron.<br>
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I was wondering if those ancient 'batteries', however, could have been used for a type of electroplating.<br>
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I've ordered some jeweler's pickle and will be experimenting with it in a few weeks. <p></p><i></i>

[venicone]

Hi Richard<br>
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Pliny's Natural History contains much in the way of chemicals etc and tests by way of smell, taste, feel, colour, meting point, chemical change etc<br>
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May be somewhere to start looking?<br>
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[Anonymous]

Wasn't there found ones Roman counterfitted coins with a verry thin layer of gold on them?<br>
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[richsc]

Salve Cananefat!<br>
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I heard there were sandwiched coins, and other debasements to the currency. Have to ask Dave Michaels (Legio VI in Los Angeles and a collector) to look that up. <p></p><i></i>