An alloy of gold and silver with a large proportion of copper or other base metal, used in coinage.
bil'on, n. base metal: esp. an alloy of silver with copper, tin, or the like. [Fr., from same root as BILLET.]
[Fr.] A composition of gold or silver with a larger quantity of copper; once common in France, from about 1200; coined-or something very like it-by Henry VIII. and by Elizabeth, for Ireland. The groschen of N. Germany is of B.