A series of glass samples was prepared from an admixture of sodium tetraborate, copper and cerium based on the system (Na2B4O7)(98)-(CuO)(2-x)-(CeO2)(x), where x = 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mol %, and results of optical absorption, infrared absorption spectra and differential scanning calorimetry are reported as a function of copper and cerium contents. It was found that increasing the CuO content and decreasing the CeO2 content shifted the fundamental absorption edge to longer wavelengths. It was also found that the incorporation of CuO and CeO2 did not affect the limits of the ultraviolet absorption edge of the base glass.