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Raman spectroscopy characterization of 10‐cash productions from the late C hinese emperors to the R epublic
Author(s) -
Montoya Noemí,
Montagna Elena,
Lee Yu,
DoménechCarbó María Teresa,
DoménechCarbó Antonio
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.5218
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , crystallinity , electron microprobe , cuprite , analytical chemistry (journal) , microprobe , surface enhanced raman spectroscopy , chemistry , copper , materials science , metallurgy , mineralogy , crystallography , environmental chemistry , raman scattering , optics , physics
The use of Raman spectroscopy for discriminating monetary emissions, a recurrent problem in much archaeological studies, is described. The method involves the record of Raman signatures of tenorite and crystalline and defective cuprite in the patina based on the idea that subtle, mint‐characteristic variations in the composition and metallography of the base metal during the manufacturing process are reflected in the variation in depth of the composition and crystallinity of the corrosion patina. The technique was applied to a series of 10‐cash copper coins produced around the transition between the Kuang Hsü and Hsüan T'ung last Chinese emperors and the first Republic whose averaged composition was 95 ± 1% wt Cu plus 5 ± 1% wt Zn often accompanied by traces of Sn and Pb. Raman data, corroborated by focusing ion beam‐field emission scanning electron microscopy and voltammetry of immobilized particles measurements, suggested the possibility of discerning between different provincial and regular unified currency productions.