Balteus, 1st AD, goldplated?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Awesome, just the ticket!
Timely thread with great information guys!!

[Latinitas]

Yeah, I know that stuff. But the problem is that my plates have niello, so that is also covered when you use that stuff.

Look at this: That buckle is gilded, so could I gild my niello plates from the mid first century AD too?

[Tarbicus]

Yeah, I know that stuff. But the problem is that my plates have niello, so that is also covered when you use that stuff.

Look at this: That buckle is gilded, so could I gild my niello plates from the mid first century AD too?

Look, it's up to you as they're your property. The silver plating solution only silvers brass and copper. For instance, it won't silver any steel parts because it's the wrong metal, and the stuff only silvers metal anyway. As niello/enamel isn't brass or copper, or even metal, then it should be fine.

On another note, are your plates earlier 1st-Century similar to this? http://www.armamentaria.com/store/index ... cts_id=100

If that's the case then you shouldn't be selectively silvering any parts, but the whole thing as far as I can tell.

However, that gilded buckle you posted is from a much later date. To my mind it's a bit like saying it's okay to put a nasal protector on a Gallic A because Late Roman helmets had them.

[Marcus Mummius]

Niello is an alloy of silver, copper and sulfer (after the Roman period most of the time lead was added to this alloy, but the Romans mostly used lead free niello).

I don't know if the silvering solution will cover the niello, but it could. That is, if the niello on your plates is real niello and not some kind of synthetic resin or enamel.

Vale,

[Tormenta]

It's a little bit late, but here ( http://www.arhej.com/si/index.php?mID=g ... me=Tribuna ) is a picture of a golden belt plate dated in the time of Augustus. It was found in a well, at the excavations in Tribuna, Ljubljana in the year 2008. At the site were found a roman military encampment(Augustan and Tiberian time) and a prehistoric settlement(9-7 c. BC)