PIXE analysis of medieval silver coins

Abdelouahed, H. Ben; Gharbi, F.; Roumié, M.; Baccouche, S.; Romdhane, Khaled Ben; Nsouli, B.; Trabelsi, A.

doi:10.1016/j.matchar.2009.10.008

Cited by 15 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The EDX analyses revealed silver as the unique metallic element, while traces of copper were detected only in a few leaf samples examined by XRF. From the analysis of European and Ottoman post‐medieval, silver coins it is apparent that although high‐purity coins (Ag > 99%) were occasionally minted, the majority of the circulating coins were manufactured from silver alloys containing at least 5% copper (Šmit and Šemrov ; Abdelouahed et al ; Rodrigues et al ). Thus if coins are also to be considered as the metal source for silver‐leaf manufacturing, the notable absence of copper denotes either that craftsmen intentionally selected high‐purity coins, or that they purified the coin‐originating, copper‐containing metals prior to using them.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Metal‐Leaf Decorations of Post‐Byzantine Greek Icons

et al. 2017

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Metal leaves were widely used as decorative materials in post-Byzantine ritual painting. Fiftytwo icons (mid-15th to mid-19th centuries) were studied by means of analytical techniques in order to reveal the materials and techniques encountered in their metal-leaf decorations. High-purity gold leaf was used throughout the studied period. Silver was employed rarely and mostly during the latter part of the period in consideration, while metal powders were mostly used from the mid-18th century onwards. The identification of a gold-silver powder mixture and an 'electrum'-type alloy are among the reported findings, which are novel for post-Byzantine icons. Three micromorphologically distinct highlighting techniques were also documented.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Metal‐Leaf Decorations of Post‐Byzantine Greek Icons

et al. 2017

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“…Additionally, XRF spectrometry has been used to describe the trace elements found in the alloys of various medieval Ag coins of King Mathias (the Hungarian National Museum), the “Friesacher Pfenning,” and the “Tiroler Kreuzer” (the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank). Furthermore, Abdelouahed and coworkers applied PIXE to examine medieval Ag coins from the Tunisian treasury . Before performing these measurements, the coins were cleaned with a diluted acid solution and the Ag concentration was in the range of 55% to 99%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface characterization of medieval silver coins minted by the early Piasts: FT‐IR mapping and SEM/EDX studies

Pięta

Lekki

Hoyo‐Meléndez

et al. 2017

Surface & Interface Analysis

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An investigation of a numismatic collection of silver denarii from the early Piast dynasty was conducted using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The studied coins, minted between 995 and 1020 AD under the rules of Boleslaus the Brave and Mieszko II Lambert, belong to the collection of the National Museum in Kraków. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy imaging and mapping have been used for recording a visual image of the surface chemistry based on vibrational spectra and accurately representing the distribution of chemical compounds, respectively. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray analysis was used to study the surface topography of the coins and characterize their elemental composition. Differences in the distribution of the identified chemical compounds were detected in heterogeneous areas of the denarii. Corrosion effects, associated to many factors including the alloy composition, the metallographic structure, the manufacturing processes, and the environment were also observed and identified. KEYWORDSBoleslaus the Brave, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, FT-IR, numismatic studies, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, SEM/EDX, silver coins 1 | INTRODUCTION Nowadays, due to the need for high sensitivity, reliability and nondestructiveness, several analytical methods are continuously been developed to study cultural heritage objects, including numismatic collections. Vibrational spectroscopy methods (infrared absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and ion beam analysis techniques (particle-induced X-ray emission [PIXE], particle-induced γ-ray emission, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry) are the most commonly used in this area and allow for high sensitivity and reliable identification. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] These kinds of studies are useful to enrich the discussion on many historical aspects, such as coinage production, provenance of raw materials, forgeries, and conservation treatments. [16][17][18][19][20] In the previously published paper, we have already described the voltammetry of immobilized particles study of a series of 20 denarii from Boleslaus the Brave and Mieszko II Lambert. 21 The analytical results can offer complementary information to archaeologists, art historians, and conservation professionals, interested in finding a correlation between the chemical composition of the coins and their historical, economical, and political aspects.Additionally, numismatic objects have a higher survival rate in comparison to other types of historic artifacts. Therefore, in the last few years there has been an increasing interest in the field of physicochemical analysis of historic coins. However, the analysis can be difficult because of chemical changes and corrosion processes caused by different human and natural factors, which noticeably alter the surface composition of the objects. 22,23 In a previous paper, 16 XRF analysis was performed...

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“…[1] A number of papers have been published in recent years, devoted to the nondestructive analysis of Greek silver coins, [2] Roman bronze [3][4][5] and silver coins, [6][7][8][9][10] silver and golden medieval coins, [11][12][13] and other coinages. [14][15][16] The aim of the analysis is, in general, the determination of the composition of the coins, with the purpose of understanding the practices of coinage and the materials used.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The archaeometric analysis of ancient coins gives important information about the economic and social organization of the society in which they were used . A number of papers have been published in recent years, devoted to the nondestructive analysis of Greek silver coins, Roman bronze and silver coins, silver and golden medieval coins, and other coinages …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

X‐ray fluorescence analysis on a group of coins from the ancient roman city of Tridentum (Trento, Italy)

et al. 2014

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A group of 83 coins, found in the archeological excavations of the ancient Roman city of Tridentum (Trento, Italy), was studied for the determination of their composition, finalized to their classification and cataloging.The coins, mainly made of copper-based alloys, were minted between the republican period (II century BC) and the last decades of the western empire (V century AD).The X-Ray Fluorescence archaeometric analysis has allowed a revision of the typological classification of the coins through the identification of six broad groups, each one characterized by a peculiar composition of the coins in the group. A tentative assignation of all the unreadable coins to one of the groups identified was proposed, in a way that could suggest also a possible dating of these coins.

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PIXE analysis of medieval silver coins

Cited by 15 publications

References 31 publications

On the Metal‐Leaf Decorations of Post‐Byzantine Greek Icons

On the Metal‐Leaf Decorations of Post‐Byzantine Greek Icons

Surface characterization of medieval silver coins minted by the early Piasts: FT‐IR mapping and SEM/EDX studies

X‐ray fluorescence analysis on a group of coins from the ancient roman city of Tridentum (Trento, Italy)

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