Definition

• Bronze Gilt.  A light goldplating over bronze; also called bronze dore. In ranking of medals of award, bronze gilt ranks higher, of course, than plain bronze.  See goldplate.
  Some untarnished bronze alloys have the same color and brilliancy as certain colors of gold; as do some brass alloys, oroide or goldene. Many of these compositions are mistaken for gold, and are, indeed, chosen because of this close color resemblance to gold.
           How To Tell Bronze and Brass
                   From True Gold Color. 
  True gold or goldplate has a "soft appearance," while
  bronze and brass alloys have a "discordant appearance."
  A professional photographer once said "I can always tell
  the difference of gold from bronze and brass through
  the camera lens." Light rays reflecting off the surface
  of each are different. The soft color of gold has parallel
  rays of reflection. The discordant rays of bronze and
  brass go off in many directions.  Gold looks uniform,
  untarnished bronze and brass alloys look "hot." The
  best test to differentiate bronze and brass from gold,
  of course, is one of specific gravity.
                                                                                                                                         

  excerpted with permission from

  An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

  For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

  COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

  Roger W. Burdette, Editor

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