A neutron tomographic analysis of plated silver coins from ancient Greece official or illegal?

Scott Olsen*, Filomena Silvemini, Vladimir Luzin, Ulf Garbe, Max Avdeev, Joel Davis, Ken Sheedy

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)
    72 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    This study focuses on a neutron tomographic analysis conducted on a set of plated silver coins minted in the city-state of Athens and in the Greek colonies of Kroton and Metapontum (South Italy or Magna Graecia) during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The investigation aims to define the plating method by characterising the morphological and structural features of the specimens, i.e. the volume fraction of metallic and non-metallic components, and thickness maps of the plating and porosity. The status of these coins is uncertain: were they official issues authorized by state-authorities during periods of trouble (and silver shortages in the public treasury) or the product of ancient or modern counterfeiters?

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationNeutron Radiography - 11th World Conference on Neutron Radiography, WCNR 2018
    EditorsUlf Garbe, Filomena Salvemini, Joseph J. Bevitt
    PublisherAssociation of American Publishers
    Pages233-238
    Number of pages6
    ISBN (Print)9781644900567
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020
    EventWorld Conference on Neutron Radiography (11th : 2018) - Sydney, Australia
    Duration: 2 Sept 20187 Sept 2018

    Publication series

    NameMaterials Research Proceedings
    Volume15
    ISSN (Print)2474-3941
    ISSN (Electronic)2474-395X

    Conference

    ConferenceWorld Conference on Neutron Radiography (11th : 2018)
    Abbreviated titleWCNR-11
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    CitySydney
    Period2/09/187/09/18

    Bibliographical note

    Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

    Keywords

    • Archaeometallugy
    • Neutron Tomography
    • Numismatics

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