Shedding light on the microstructure and chemical composition of rare early medieval coins from Italy (Berengario I) by combining pXRF and SEM–EDX analysis

Volpi, Vanessa; Chiarantini, Laura; Cicali, Cristina; Salvadori, Barbara

doi:10.1007/s12520-023-01726-3

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 54 publications

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“…It's worth noting that metals and metal alloys primarily yield a signal from the few superficial microns of material. Therefore, in metal studies, this technique can be considered a surface technique [14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

X-ray fluorescence analysis of three late medieval silver chalices associated with Ireland

Biolcati,

McDonnell,

Hoffman

et al. 2024

Herit Sci

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This paper presents the results of the first X-ray fluorescence (XRF) investigation conducted on three late medieval chalices associated with Ireland: the Ó Learghusa chalice, auctioned as medieval Irish in 2021, does not have a confirmed provenance; the de Burgo-O'Malley chalice, dated 1494, and the TP-IEP chalice, dated 1589, both of Irish provenance. This study effectively addressed the knowledge gap concerning Irish medieval silver chalices composition. The analysis revealed that both the Ó Learghusa and de Burgo-O'Malley chalices were crafted from a silver-copper alloy and adorned using a fire-gilding technique. The blue and green enamels on the de Burgo-O'Malley chalice were found to be constituted by cobalt and iron/copper glasses, respectively. In contrast, the TP-IEP chalice exhibited a more intricate structure, being a composite object with partial silver gilt and with the bowl and base possibly made of a ternary silver-copper-gold alloy. The TP-IEP chalice’s knop displayed glass, simulating gems with transparent, blue, and purple colorations. XRF analysis allowed identification of lead-potash glass, while the red glass displayed a rich iron content and was identified as soda-lime glass. The analysis allowed concluding that the de Burgo-O'Malley chalice had retained its original condition, including its original gilding and enamels, while the Ó Learghusa and TP-IEP chalices appeared to have undergone refurbishment. These significant discoveries contribute to a deeper understanding of the historical context and artistic craftsmanship behind these late medieval chalices, shedding light on their unique stories within Irish art and history.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

X-ray fluorescence analysis of three late medieval silver chalices associated with Ireland

Biolcati,

McDonnell,

Hoffman

et al. 2024

Herit Sci

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Surface Elemental Characterization of Indian Punch-Marked Coins of 600 to 200 BCE Era

Upadhyay,

Giri,

Prakash

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In the present work, X-ray diffraction [XRD] and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic [XPS] techniques are used for surface elemental analysis and chemical composition of nine series of imperial punch-marked coins [PMC] of 600 to 200 BCE stored in the Numismatic Society of India at BHU, Varanasi. These coins were selected based on the Gupta-Hardakar classification system of the Mahajanpada and Janpada periods. PMCs are considered the oldest coins in India. They are among the most common coinages globally and are frequently found in hoards. XRD results show four prominent diffraction peaks, whereas XPS spectral analysis of these nine series of imperial punch-marked coins at different surface positions shows a non-uniform distribution revealed by the elemental analysis, which shows different element percentages in each coin. In XPS, Silver is found in dominant, along with copper, lead and a few other elements in very low percentages and gold in Janpada PMC only. In XRD, silver is found in the crystal fcc phase at the surface of PMCs. XPS data shows that the percentage of silver found decreases with the increase of lead and copper in the varying series. The results show a high degree of metallurgical understanding and alloying techniques between the sixth and third centuries BCE. It also demonstrates that the coins were issued at different times when technology was advancing. Numerous issues were raised by the decreasing silver content, including the state of the economy, the growth in coin demand for exchange, and the preservation of weight standards.

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Shedding light on the microstructure and chemical composition of rare early medieval coins from Italy (Berengario I) by combining pXRF and SEM–EDX analysis

Cited by 2 publications

References 54 publications

X-ray fluorescence analysis of three late medieval silver chalices associated with Ireland

X-ray fluorescence analysis of three late medieval silver chalices associated with Ireland

Surface Elemental Characterization of Indian Punch-Marked Coins of 600 to 200 BCE Era

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