in the history of coins, a composition of precious and base metals, where the latter predominates. Wherefore gold under twelve carats fine, is called billon of gold; and silver under fix pennyweight, billon of silver. So little attention was paid formerly to the purity of gold and silver, that the term billon of gold was applied only to that which was under twenty-one carats, and billon of silver to that which was lower than ten pennyweight.

a town of Auvergne in France, situated in E. Long. 3. 30. N. Lat. 45. 36.