Plated Iron Age Coins: Official Issues or Contemporary Forgeries

This paper discusses different explanations that have been proposed to account for the existence of plated Iron Age coins, some of which appear to have been struck from the dies used to produce solid metal coins. Evidence occasionally preserved on plated coins proves that at least some of them were struck from dies which had been hubbed from solid metal coins, and it is these solid metal coins that were struck from the dies which the plated coins appear to have been produced from. It is argued that this evidence demonstrates that plated Iron Age coins are merely contemporary forgeries.     

Chronological discrimination of silver coins based on inter‐elemental ratios using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS)

This paper details the application of a statistical method for the chronological discrimination of silver coins using counts per second trace elemental, inter‐elemental ratios. The statistical method described is based on a method that has been applied to similar archaeological materials to determine their provenance. The method makes use of the inter‐element association patterns of multi‐element analytical data determined using laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). The majority of the 266 coins analysed for this study have already been successfully identified by their mint markings. The data from LA‐ICP‐MS analyses, together with what is known about the coins through visual identification, were used to discriminate the reigning sovereign, and in the case of Mexico, the year of minting, of individual coins within the elemental fingerprint of different mints. Subsequently, unidentified coins can be placed in the confusion matrix, and their trace element information used to identify their year of minting when compared with other, identified coins from the same mint. The interpretational statistical technique linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to explore an identification of year of minting of coins that have previously not been identified by other means based on a statistical comparison against a database of compositional analysis of silver coins of known year of minting.     

Magnetic properties of ancient coins

The almost ubiquitous presence of small amounts of iron in ancient coins gives them remanent magnetic properties which can be measured easily on commercial magnetometers. The stability of the remanence suggests that ancient coins might retain information about the geomagnetic field at the time and location of manufacture and so be valuable in setting up archaeomagnetic dating curves. However, measurements show that the remanence directions tend to be too scattered for this purpose, although it is quite possible to distinguish magnetically the obverse and reverse faces of struck coins.Saturation remanence studies of coins and coin analogues indicate that the main carrier of the remanence in struck coins is precipitated fine-grained iron (rather than the oxides of iron) which is produced during the minting process. The intensity of the remanence generated depends upon the thermo-mechanical history of the flan prior to striking, which suggests that the magnetic properties of such coins are not simply related to the provenance of the ores used.     

楚金币的发现与研究

本文概述了楚国金币的发现情况,对楚金币的种类、形制、印记、重量与刻文诸问题加以探讨,对楚金币出土情况进行剖析,认为,楚金币是流通中的秤量货币,它与铜贝是主币与辅币的关系;并对楚金币的币材产地、冶炼技术与铸造年代等进行研究。     

洛阳地区西晋墓出土钱币初探

洛阳公布的西晋墓有百余座,出土钱币万余枚,包括两汉、王莽、三国时期,主要有半两、五铢、大泉五十、货泉等,具有种类多、总量少、选择性强的特点。结合文献可知,西晋时期钱币广泛用于俸禄、税收、赏赐、交易等。     

北宋和南宋青铜钱币对比分析研究

宋代是我国钱币的一个大发展时期,宋代钱币在我国钱币史上占有极其重要的地位.为了解南、北宋钱币的成分、显微结构的差异对铸币保存状况的影响,通过显微镜观察、合金成分分析、显微结构分析,对南宋和北宋各21枚钱币的保存状况进行了对比分析研究,以了解这42枚钱币的锈蚀状况、锈蚀原因,以及成分、显微结构的差异对铸币保存状况的影响.同时在分析研究的过程中,对北宋、南宋钱币的合金成分、铸造工艺进行了对比研究.研究结果表明,南宋钱币的保存状况比北宋的差一些,合金成分及显微结构的差异,是导致保存状况不同的重要原因.这些钱币主要是由铜、锡、铅铸造而成,分析结果进一步证实北宋钱币合金成分比较稳定,成分配比比较科学.而南宋成分数据比较分散,早期铜、锡含量较高,铅含量较低,晚期铜、锡含量较低,铅含量明显增高,合金品质大大降低.本研究可为了解当时的科学技术、社会经济形态进一步提供基本信息.     

NON-DESTRUCTIVE RADIOISOTOPE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS OF OLD SILVER COINS

The paper presents the results of a feasibility study of the application of X-ray fluorescence analysis to nondestructive analysis of coins. Radioisotope sources ⁵⁵Fe, ²⁴¹Am, ¹⁰⁹Cd and ²³⁸Pu were used for excitation and a Si/Li detector with a multichannel analyser for the measurement of characteristic X-ray lines. Silver and copper in Polish renaissance coins have been analysed. Analysis using Ag K and Ag L lines allows one to distinguish between blanched and unblanched coins. The accuracy of the silver determination using Ag K X-rays is claimed to be ± 0.5% Ag for homogenous coins and ± 1.0% Ag for blanched but well-preserved uncorroded coins.     

云南香格里拉迪庆藏族自治州博物馆藏币的科学分析

为了解西藏钱币的制作工艺,采用金相显微镜组织观察和扫描电子显微镜分析的方法,对云南香格里拉迪庆藏族自治州博物馆收藏的五枚藏币样品进行分析。分析结果表明,五枚藏币可以分作两类,一类为铜质,一类为银铜合金。铜质钱币为含铜率高达99%,可以判定为纯铜制品;银铜合金币的配比基本符合"银八铜二"的合金化的要求。五枚钱币全部采用机械冲压制作,符合当时社会的生产动力变化。本研究成果对进一步研究西藏地区钱币的工艺技术有一定价值。     

MULTICOIN: A TOOL FOR CLASSIFYING COINS IN A MULTIMEDIA ENVIRONMENT

Classifying coins found during excavation is a challenging task for the archaeologist. This paper describes a multimedia system designed to assist the archaeologist by enabling him either to classify coins based on a pre-existing catalogue or to draw up his own catalogue for specific purposes. The system can also be used to train novices in the field: following an initial screening, the archaeologist only has to examine coins specifically requiring his expertise. A case study uses coins minted in Salerno 800–1200 AD, but the system has been designed to classify any set of coins by simply changing the underlying knowledge base. Very little training is required to operate the user-friendly system, which runs on multimedia PCs, as it is written using the C++ language and makes full use of the advanced features of Windows 3.11.     

中国钱币博物馆部分陈列银币、铜币的腐蚀产物及成因研究

为探讨部分陈列银币、铜币腐蚀产物及其成因,采用三维视频显微镜、扫描电镜-能谱(SEM-EDS)、X射线荧光(XRF)、X射线衍射(XRD)等方法,对中国钱币博物馆部分遭受腐蚀的展陈钱币的腐蚀产物进行了分析,并通过红外光谱(FT-IR)对展陈材料进行了分析,最后对硫的来源进行了初步分析。结果表明,银币和铜币的腐蚀产物均含有硫化物,银币(银铤)的腐蚀产物为硫化银,铜币的腐蚀产物中主要为铜的硫化物,此外还含有铜的氧化物。经分析,展柜中的黏合剂氯丁胶在光照和较高温湿度条件下能分解并释放出硫化氢气体,因而初步判断银币或铜币的腐蚀产物是由于展柜内材料产生的硫化氢与银币或铜币反应生成。     

庚子之后制钱铸造体系的规复与解体

制钱铸造在庚子之变中遭受重创,此后经历了一个艰难规复、地方实践、观念转型、民间转向与最终解体的复杂过程。面对庚子后的钱荒危机,清政府通过批准开铸铜元、重建中央铸钱局、改铸新制钱、推广粤式制钱等钱法改革,于光绪三十三年初步规复传统的制钱铸造体系。但随着各省对铜元余利的倚重与货币本位制改革的推进,朝野人士对主、辅币关系形成新的认识,铜元超越制钱被纳入主辅币方案,一文铜元亦在光绪三十四年逆转一文制钱成为推行全国的一文新钱。由此,钱法改革从属于本位制改革,政府币制改革观念亦由银钱并行、分层开展转型为统筹划一、建立银本位,故制钱被排除在新币制之外,长期亏赔的宝泉局最后亦被撤销。同时,民间私钱历经泛滥与衰落之后,在宣统朝转入消亡期。至宣统三年,虽然官私制钱仍在广泛流通,但相关铸造活动已全面停止,这标志着自秦代以后运行两千余年的传统铸钱体系最终解体。     

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF COPPER-TIN BRONZES BY MEANS OF GLOW DISCHARGE OPTICAL EMISSION SPECTROMETRY

Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES) has been used for obtaining calibration curves for copper, tin, lead, silver, antimony, arsenic, zinc and iron from standards including copper-base alloys (Cu 61.33-99.95%) and from bronze Punic coins. The GDOES results were calibrated using atomic absorption spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma atomization (ICPAAS) to analyse the standards and coins. For all these materials, the results show that via GDOES it is possible to obtain reliable and reproducible calibration curves for copper, tin, lead, zinc and iron with a linear behaviour as a function of the content. The quantitative GDOES and ICPAAS data for the coins have been also compared with those obtained via X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and it is shown that GDOES, ICPAAS and XRF agree well with one another considering that the bronze coins are inhomogeneous to some degree. As an example of GDOES analytical features, a depth concentration profile through a thin bronze patina is shown and briefly discussed.     

Ancient coins,find spots,and import restrictions: A critique of arguments made in the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild’s “test case”

Abstract

The Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (ACCG) has launched multiple legal challenges aimed at undermining import restrictions on ancient coins into the United States in bilateral agreements with foreign countries. One key component of the ACCG’s argument is that the State Department has inappropriately restricted certain types of coins according to where they were made rather than where they are found, as mandated by the 1983 Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. Although the ACCG has thus far been unsuccessful, it has not been pointed out that existing import restrictions on coins, in fact, have been written to include coins that tended to circulate locally and that are found primarily within the borders of the country with which the bilateral agreement is made. The ACCG’s argument is thus on shaky ground. As the ACCG continues to press ahead with new litigation, it is worth drawing attention to realities and probabilities of ancient coin circulation as they pertain to protected coins.     

NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT BURMESE SILVER COINS WITH A LOW FLUX AMERICIUM/BERYLLIUM NEUTRON SOURCE

Nondestructive neutron activation analysis is by now a well-established technique for the analysis of ancient silver coins. The high activation cross-section of silver for thermal neutrons makes it possible to also use this method with the low neutron fluxes available from an isotopic neutron source. In this case due consideration must be given to minimize the self-shielding effect which is encountered with coins above a few tenths of a millimetre thickness. A simple method for the determination of the silver, copper and gold content in silver coins based on the self-shielding properties of silver alloys of different fineness is described. The method has been found to be useful for the quick routine assay of silver coins for the purpose of their classification. Seventeen ancient Burmese silver coins from three different cultural periods of Burma, and two British coins for comparison have been analyzed by this method.     

WB1复合气相缓蚀剂对清代带锈铁质钱币文物的保护研究

气相缓蚀剂应用于带锈铁质文物保护是一种简单有效的方法。本研究通过对WB-1气相缓蚀剂处理前后带锈钱币的形貌检测,并结合XRD、XPS、SEM等手段对该缓蚀剂在带锈钱币表面的成膜方式进行了分析研究。结果表明,WB-1气相缓蚀剂能通过化学吸附作用在带锈铁质钱币表面形成一层保护膜,阻挡有害离子向铸铁文物内部的渗透,并促进带锈铁质钱币表面锈层组分向更为稳定的组成转变。WB-1气相缓蚀剂对带锈铁质钱币具有良好的保护效果,且不改变文物外观,符合文物保护要求。     

The Evolution of Pre‐Islamic South Arabian Coinage: A Metallurgical Analysis of Coins Excavated In Sumhuram (Khor‐Rori,Sultanate of Oman)

The present paper deals with compositional and microstructural features of 26 pre‐Islamic, South Arabian coins recently unearthed during archaeological excavations. Most of the investigated coins come from Sumhuram (Khor Rori, southern Oman), and were minted by the Hadramawt kingdom (fourth century bc to third century ad ); only a few of them belong to the Himyarite kingdom's coinage (first to fourth centuries ad ). In addition, some coins of both the Hadramawt and the Himyarite kingdoms found at Qani' (B'ir ‘Ali, Republic of Yemen) have been analysed for comparison. Our main focus was to provide new hints towards the comprehension of the chronological evolution in South Arabian coinage in terms of both metal composition and minting techniques. In addition, some melting crucibles found at Sumhuram have been examined in an attempt to make a comparison with the coins’ composition and to test the hypothesis that they were used for minting operations.     

四川邛崃一批出土银元的分析与除锈保护

为了保护四川邛崃出土的一批银元,用SEM-EDS和XRD分析法对具有代表性的银元及锈蚀物成分进行了分析。结果显示,银元中除含主元素Ag之外,同时还含有一定量的Cu元素;表面锈蚀物大多数为铜的化合物——氧化亚铜和碱式碳酸铜,少量为角银。结合分析结果及试验,采用机械振动和5%EDTA二钠盐水溶液相结合的方法进行除锈,之后再缓蚀封护,并用有机玻璃制作的钱币专用盒封装存放。分析数据将为研究我国银元文物提供科学信息,保护方法将为银器类文物的保护提供应用实例。     

汉代平板陶范竖式浇铸法铸钱工艺的研究

平板范竖式浇铸工艺是我国早期铸钱的基本形式,根据材质的不同,可将平板范分为石范、陶范和金属范.由于与平板陶范竖式浇铸法铸钱相关遗物出土数量少,该方法不是汉代铸钱工艺中的主要方法,故目前还未对其开展系统的研究.本工作对平板陶范竖式浇铸法铸钱相关遗物进行了归类分析.表明该工艺不仅在西汉早期一直在使用着,到东汉时期,仍然被用于铸钱.通过模拟实验对汉代的平板陶范竖式浇铸法铸钱工艺进行了研究,其工艺过程为:铸造金属制范模,在模上翻制陶范,陶范经阴干焙烧后铸造钱币.金属制范模的制作,提高了陶范制作的效率,同时也保证了钱币在型腔尺寸和文字上的一致性.     

汉代铸钱夹砂陶背范的分析研究

与汉代铸钱相关的遗物中,铸钱夹砂陶背范出土数量最多,是由泥质面层与夹砂背层组成。为了揭示铸钱夹砂陶背范的制作工艺并探讨陶范多次使用的可能性及夹砂层的作用,对陕西西安窝头寨汉代铸钱遗址出土的铸钱夹砂陶背范进行分析研究。结果表明,泥质面层采用细泥料制作,其作用是保证所铸造的金属钱币具有优良的表面质量;夹砂背层是在制范泥料中掺杂了较多的肉眼可见的砂砾,其作用是提高陶范的机械性能,减小陶范受热后的变形,有利于它与金属范合范铸钱。铸钱夹砂陶背范的制作过程是:先制作夹砂层,然后在夹砂层上制作细泥层,在细泥层上印制钱币的背郭型腔,与金属范组成铸型铸造钱币。证实夹砂层可以重复使用,当泥质面层损坏后可以除掉表面的细泥层或直接在原型腔面上另加一层细泥重新制作背郭型腔,再次进行钱币的铸造,夹砂层可以一直使用到被损坏为止,从而极大地提高了铸钱效率。     

A Study on the Xiwang Shanggong Coins Unearthed at the Jiangkou Site in Pengshan,Sichuan

An archaeological excavation was jointly conducted by organizations including the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute in the first half of 2017 in the Jiangkou stretch of the Minjiang River in Pengshan District, Meizhou, Sichuan Province, where more than two hundred gold and silver xiwang shanggong coins were unearthed. This was the first time that the existence of xiwang shanggong coins was proved by a systematic archaeological excavation, providing a scientific basis for solving the long-standing unresolved historical problem. By sorting out the academic history of xiwang shanggong coins, this paper points out that in the past seven years, these coins have experienced the transition from being dug by robbers to being excavated scientifically, and have turned from a hot topic in collection to one in academia. This paper summarizes the characteristics of these gold and silver coins and presents an idea that those coins may have never been officially issued. Some of the coins have residual traces of being burnt, which may provide physical proof to prove the event in historical records that the fleet of Zhang Xianzhong was burnt by the army of Yang Zhan in the early Qing Dynasty. By using these unearthed xiwang shanggong coins as the standard and comparing them with some of the handed-down counterparts, this paper makes an in-depth analysis on the authenticity of the handed-down coins and indicates that some of the gold and silver ones may be authentic while some copper ones may be counterfeit.