For 10 points, name this metal, the base for the Greek obol and the Roman denarius.
In his Natural History Book 33 Pliny the Elder discusses this substance and attributes its discovery to Erichthonius or Aeacus. This substance replaced aes signatum after the Pyrrhic war. Ministeria of this material such as the Oceanus Dish were found at Hildesheim and Mildenhall, and a sulphide of this material with copper and lead called Niello was used for black inlay work. The Warren Cup, which displays explicit pederastic images, is made from this material, and Epicurean maxims decorate the Boscoreale cups made of this substance. The increasing scarcity of this substance resulted in the runaway inflation of the 3rd century AD. Production sites for this material included Rio Tinto in Spain and the Laurium mining complex in Attica; proceeds from Laurium financed the construction of the Piraeus and the construction of Themistocles' "wooden wall". For 10 points, name this metal, the base for the Greek obol and the Roman denarius.
In his Natural History Book 33 Pliny the Elder discusses this substance and attributes its discovery to Erichthonius or Aeacus.
{Silver}