Exhibit 10.1

ARGONAUT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

AMENDMENT TO

CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

      This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance
Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of March 17,
2005 (the “Effective Date”), by and between David Foster (the “Employee”) and
Argonaut Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

R E C I T A L

      The Company and the Employee are parties to an Amended and Restated Change
of Control Severance Agreement dated August 3, 2004 (the “Prior Agreement”),
which agreement the parties desire to amend in its entirety.

AGREEMENT

      In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and the
continued employment of Employee by the Company, the parties agree that the
Prior Agreement is amended as follows:

  “Section 4, Bonus Upon A Change of Control, is amended as follows: In the
event of a Negotiated Change of Control, Employee shall be entitled to receive a
cash bonus equal to 0.375% of the Value of the Company upon the closing of such
Negotiated Change of Control.”

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in
the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year
first above written.

     
COMPANY:
  ARGONAUT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

By: /s/ Lissa Goldenstein

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: Lissa Goldenstein

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: President & CEO    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
EMPLOYEE:
  /s/ David Foster

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Signature
 
David Foster

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Printed Name