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Surface characterization of medieval silver coins minted by the early Piasts: FT‐IR mapping and SEM/EDX studies
Author(s) -
Pięta Ewa,
Lekki Janusz,
HoyoMeléndez Julio M.,
Paluszkiewicz Czesława,
Nowakowski Michał,
Matosz Marta,
Kwiatek Wojciech M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/sia.6338
Subject(s) - scanning electron microscope , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , characterization (materials science) , chemical composition , analytical chemistry (journal) , spectroscopy , infrared spectroscopy , fourier transform , elemental analysis , infrared , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , materials science , mineralogy , chemistry , optics , nanotechnology , physics , environmental chemistry , composite material , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
An investigation of a numismatic collection of silver denarii from the early Piast dynasty was conducted using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The studied coins, minted between 995 and 1020 ad under the rules of Boleslaus the Brave and Mieszko II Lambert, belong to the collection of the National Museum in Kraków. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy imaging and mapping have been used for recording a visual image of the surface chemistry based on vibrational spectra and accurately representing the distribution of chemical compounds, respectively. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis was used to study the surface topography of the coins and characterize their elemental composition. Differences in the distribution of the identified chemical compounds were detected in heterogeneous areas of the denarii. Corrosion effects, associated to many factors including the alloy composition, the metallographic structure, the manufacturing processes, and the environment were also observed and identified.