Comparative Analysis of Silver Mining and Purification Techniques in Parthian and Seleucid Dynasties Based on Numismatic Evidences (original) (raw)
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B. Sodaei, M. Hajivaliei, F. Khademi Nadooshan, 2013
Chemical composition made by PIXE and XRF of silver coins which have been minted in the Ecbatana mint houses in the Parthian period (247 BC-224 AD) implies silver sources, which has been extracted for issuing coins. Also, it gives information about the economic and political conditions of the era under study. Fifteen Perthian and twenty two Sasanian (459-651 A.D.) silver coins were analyzed. The silver metal, which has been used in this Satrap, has been explored when commercial activity and population gone high, more silver has been extracted and access to the new sources was necessary by the Parthian. Here, we analytically show the number of mines for extraction of silver in this satrap and possible number of silver ore sources.
A selection of fourth century BCE silver jewelry, which is part of the Samaria and Nablus Hoards, was studied using nondestructive and minimally destructive analyses. A metallurgical methodology was applied and improved, based on the composition of the joints and bulk of the objects. The results indicate that most of the analyzed jewelry is made of silver containing a small percentage of copper, with higher Cu concentrations presented in the brazing and contact melting joints. The manufacturing processes of the jewelry from both hoards involved similar processes, including casting, hammering, bending, cutting, twisting, decorating by plastic deformation, granulating, and three joining methods. These techniques demonstrate that the artifacts were created by trained silversmiths. Our study provides better understanding of the technological skills in the late Persian-period province of Samaria and has implications regarding the production of local silver coins produced in the southern Levant.
Metallurgical investigation on fourth century BCE silver jewellery of two hoards from Samaria
A fourth century BCE silver jewellery collection, which is part of two hoards of Samarian coins (the Samaria and Nablus Hoards), was studied by non-destructive analyses. The collection, which consists of pendants, rings, beads and earrings, had been examined by visual testing, multi-focal microscopy and SEM-EDS analysis. In order to enhance our knowledge of past technologies of silver jewellery production, we developed a metallurgical methodology based on the chemical composition of the joints and bulk. The results show that all artefacts are made of silver containing a small percentage of copper. Higher copper concentrations were measured in the joining regions. Our research indicates that the manufacturing of the jewellery from both hoards involved similar techniques, including casting, cutting, hammering, bending, granulating and joining methods, indicating that the artefacts were made by trained silversmiths. Although the burial date of the Samaria Hoard – 352 BCE – is some 21 years earlier than that of the Nablus Hoard – circa 331 BCE, a noted continuity in the local production technology is apparent in the analysed items. This information provides better understanding of the technological abilities in the late Persian-period province of Samaria and bears implications on the local silver coins produced in the region. http://www.nature.com/articles/srep40659
Applied Physics A-materials Science & Processing, 2006
The microstructure of three silver coins dating back to the IIIrdcentury B.C. from the Illyrian King Monounios, the ancient Greek city of Dyrrachion and the ancient Greek city of Korkyra was studied with XRF, PIXE, microhardness measurements, and light and electron microscopy. From this investigation it turned out that these coins have different chemical compositions and different microstructures. The as-collected data allow the determination of a possible minting method. The Korkyra coin was probably hot-worked or cold-worked and annealed, while after cooling, it was cold-worked again. The coin of King Monounios is composed by equi-axed grains which are overrun by slip lines. Consequently it is likely that this coin was casted and then cold-struck. Finally the coin from Dyrrachion is characterized by small-sized grains and strain lines and as a result this coin was probably cold-struck.
Mines, Metals and Money: Ancient World Studies in Science, Archaeology and History (Metallurgy in Numismatics Vol. 6), 2020
This paper presents fresh interpretations of 160 lead isotope analyses of Archaic Greek coins on the OXALID database based on new data for ore sources in Spain, Sardinia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey and Iran. It demonstrates that the earliest minters used far more diverse metal sources than the literary evidence suggests, and engaged in what could be described as opportunistic minting. Some currently held views on the importance of Siphnian silver, Peisistratid access to Thracian silver, the sources of Aiginetan, Thasian and Chian silver, the use of gold and tin as tracers for Siphnian and Lavrion silver, and the mixing of silver are challenged. Thoughts are offered on how archaic minting drove intensification of mining.
2020
The percentage composition of metallic silver coins can be used to analyse and explain the locations and identification of coin mines. Furthermore, it provides certain information about the economic and political conditions of the era under study. Commercial activity and population growth increased the demand for silver, forcing the Sasanians to look for new sources for this metal. The aim of this work is to study the chemical composition of these Sasanian coins in order to find possible connections between the mines used for extraction of silver and the actual silver coins minted at the time. Using the wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique, the metallic elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Ag, Au and Pb were traced. The results indicate that Sasanian kings used one type of mines for their coins.