“Biblical” bronze coins: new insights into their timing and attribution using copper and lead isotopes

MC‐ICP‐MS analyses of tin isotopes in Roman‐era bronze coins reveal temporal and spatial variation

“…; Bower et al . , ) were avoided. Exemplars of coins mentioned in the discussion are shown in Figure and a listing of the coin types with their estimated dates and minting locations is given in Table .…”

“…), coins that had been surface polished and characterized in earlier studies (Bower et al . , ) were preferred for this study. All coins were from the authors’ personal collections.…”

“…In previous studies of ancient Judaean bronze coins, changes in the sources of Cu and Pb were found using trace elements coupled with Pb and Cu isotopes (Bower et al . ). Bronze coins with Cypriot copper (Cu) contained 0.1–0.5% by weight arsenic (As), while those from the Dead Sea Rift Valley had < 0.05% As.…”

“…In this study, we analyse a series of first century bce and ce coins from the Levant for their Sn isotope ratios, hypothesizing that there will be significant differences over time and space that correlate with changes in Cu and Pb found previously (Bower et al . ). Specifically, Begemann et al .…”

“…Previous analyses by Bower et al . () of Cu and Pb isotopes in the Judaean bronzes found changes over time in metal sources that reflect the shifting political alliances as the Seleucids, the Nabataeans, the Parthians, the Ptolemies and the Romans vied for control of the Levant. These shifts in Cu and Pb sources raise questions about whether similar changes can be seen in the Sn isotope ratios and, by inference, in the sources of tin.…”