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Determination of the Fineness of Medieval Coins—Evaluation of Methods in a Case Study of a Medieval Pfennig
Author(s) -
Kučera L.,
Richtera L.,
Zmrzlý M.,
Jarošová M.,
Kučerová P.,
Bednář P.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12313
Subject(s) - fineness , context (archaeology) , titration , sample (material) , scanning electron microscope , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , mineralogy , metallurgy , archaeology , chromatography , geography , composite material , inorganic chemistry
The original fineness of coins is very important information that can help us to understand the commercial situation in a wide historical context. This paper deals with a comparison of analytical methods suitable for the evaluation of the actual and original fineness of coins based on a detailed case study of a medieval coin sample. Both non‐destructive (i.e., scanning electron microscopy/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray fluorescence, atomic force microscopy and hydrostatic weighing) and destructive (i.e., inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry and the Volhard titration method) techniques were used. The original fineness can be also deduced from knowledge of the internal structure of the coin (limited miscibility of copper and silver). A new analytical method based on a combination of a micrograph of the metallographic cross‐section with consequent image analysis was developed for determination of the original fineness. The proposed approach is relatively simple and provides reliable values. Sample heterogeneity and its impact on the determination of fineness are also discussed.