Author/Authors :
Pardini، نويسنده , , L. and El Hassan، نويسنده , , A. and Ferretti، نويسنده , , M. and Foresta، نويسنده , , A. and Legnaioli، نويسنده , , S. and Lorenzetti، نويسنده , , G. and Nebbia، نويسنده , , E. and Catalli، نويسنده , , F. and Harith، نويسنده , , M.A. and Diaz Pace، نويسنده , , D. and Anabitarte Garcia، نويسنده , , F. and Scuotto، نويسنده , , M. and Palleschi، نويسنده , , V.، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
In this paper we present the results of a study performed on a large collection of silver Roman republican denarii, encompassing about two centuries of history. The joint use of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy allowed for an accurate determination of the coinsʹ elemental composition; the measurements, performed mostly in situ at the ‘Monetiere’ in Florence, revealed a striking connection between the ‘quality’ of the silver alloy and some crucial contemporary events. This finding was used to classify a group of denarii whose dating was otherwise impossible. The comparison with other contemporary denarii disproves a recent theory on the origin of the so called ‘serrated’ denarii (denarii showing notched chisel marks on the edge of the coin).
Keywords :
XRF , LIBS , Spectroscopy , Archeometry , numismatics
