copper alloy (Scope note)

The term 'copper alloy' should be searched for full retrievals on objects made of bronze or brass. This is because bronze and brass have at times been used interchangeably in the old documentation, and copper alloy is the Broad Term of both. In addition, the public may refer to certain collections by their popular name, such as 'The Benin Bronzes' most of which are actually made of brass. The term 'copper alloy' is used in preference to 'billon' (in both Description and Materials) in records for Roman coins.