Suitability of Transportable EDXRF for the On-site Assessment of Ancient Silver Coins and Other Silver Artifacts

Damian B. Gore; Gillan Davis

doi:10.1177/0003702816638283

Suitability of Transportable EDXRF for the On-site Assessment of Ancient Silver Coins and Other Silver Artifacts

Damian B. Gore^*, Gillan Davis

^*Corresponding author for this work

MQ Centre for Energy and Environmental Contaminants

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Transportable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers allow the elemental composition of coins to be measured at collections, enhancing security while maximizing access to historically important material. We assessed 10 silver coins, using five XRF spectrometers. We found no systematic differences between analyses using Mo- and Rh-anode tubes, and no substantial advantage using He flush over air for elements heavier than Ti. Higher voltage X-ray tubes enhanced analytical precision. Understanding patina composition made a numerical correction possible, allowing an approximation of the underlying coin metal with good results for metals including Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, and Bi.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	840-851
Number of pages	12
Journal	Applied Spectroscopy
Volume	70
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0003702816638283
Publication status	Published - May 2016

Keywords

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
elemental analysis
numismatics
patina
ancient history

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10.1177/0003702816638283

Cite this

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title = "Suitability of Transportable EDXRF for the On-site Assessment of Ancient Silver Coins and Other Silver Artifacts",

abstract = "Transportable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers allow the elemental composition of coins to be measured at collections, enhancing security while maximizing access to historically important material. We assessed 10 silver coins, using five XRF spectrometers. We found no systematic differences between analyses using Mo- and Rh-anode tubes, and no substantial advantage using He flush over air for elements heavier than Ti. Higher voltage X-ray tubes enhanced analytical precision. Understanding patina composition made a numerical correction possible, allowing an approximation of the underlying coin metal with good results for metals including Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, and Bi.",

keywords = "X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, elemental analysis, numismatics, patina, ancient history",

author = "Gore, {Damian B.} and Gillan Davis",

year = "2016",

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AU - Gore, Damian B.

AU - Davis, Gillan

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N2 - Transportable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers allow the elemental composition of coins to be measured at collections, enhancing security while maximizing access to historically important material. We assessed 10 silver coins, using five XRF spectrometers. We found no systematic differences between analyses using Mo- and Rh-anode tubes, and no substantial advantage using He flush over air for elements heavier than Ti. Higher voltage X-ray tubes enhanced analytical precision. Understanding patina composition made a numerical correction possible, allowing an approximation of the underlying coin metal with good results for metals including Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, and Bi.

AB - Transportable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers allow the elemental composition of coins to be measured at collections, enhancing security while maximizing access to historically important material. We assessed 10 silver coins, using five XRF spectrometers. We found no systematic differences between analyses using Mo- and Rh-anode tubes, and no substantial advantage using He flush over air for elements heavier than Ti. Higher voltage X-ray tubes enhanced analytical precision. Understanding patina composition made a numerical correction possible, allowing an approximation of the underlying coin metal with good results for metals including Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, and Bi.

KW - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

KW - elemental analysis

KW - numismatics

KW - patina

KW - ancient history

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JO - Applied Spectroscopy

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Suitability of Transportable EDXRF for the On-site Assessment of Ancient Silver Coins and Other Silver Artifacts

Abstract

Keywords

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A spring of silver, a treasury in the earth: coinage and wealth in archaic Athens

Cite this

Suitability of Transportable EDXRF for the On-site Assessment of Ancient Silver Coins and Other Silver Artifacts

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

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Projects

A spring of silver, a treasury in the earth: coinage and wealth in archaic Athens

Cite this