INVESTIGATION OF SILVER FORGERIES OF ANCIENT COINS: CASE STUDY OF SILVER COINS OF PARTHIA (ORODES II AND PHRAATES VI)
European Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, Volume 9, Issue 2, 2024
PDF Full Article, DOI: 10.36868/ejmse.2024.09.02.125, pp. 125-134
Bita SODAEI1,
1 Department of Archaeology, Faculty Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Varmint- Pishva Branch, Varamin, Iran
* Corresponding author: bita.sodaei@iau.ac.ir
Abstract
The investigation into the elemental composition and microstructural characteristics of ancient coins gives valuable information to researchers which greatly aid in the detection of counterfeits. This research aim is analysis encompasses an examination of major and trace elements present in the coins of Parthia, to identify forgery techniques utilizing the PIXE technique. The results show the elements Cl, Ca, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, Sn, and Zn were identified and according to the ratio Ag/ Cu, can be said that the Parthia period occasionally used forged silver-plated coins. The elemental composition of silver coins of Orodes II and Phraates IV observes these coins are made with plating silver and affixed to the core utilizing a silver-copper eutectic layer, while the core itself consists of copper, and quantities of tin (Sn) were detected which may have been intentionally added for metallurgical, political, or historical reasons.
Keywords: Parthia, Coins, Silver, forgery, PIXE
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