2020/05/01 by Mikhail G. Abramzon, M. P. Baryshnikov, Yu. Yu. Efimova +3 · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis #Metallurgy and Cultural Artifacts #X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
paper · doi:10.1134/s1027451020030027
openalex publication_date 2020/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Abstract The paper reports the results of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of the composition of the alloy of a group of AD 286/287 silvered staters of the Bosporan king Thothorses from the 2011 Phanagorian hoard. For the first time, such elements as chlorine, calcium, sodium and magnesium are revealed on the surface of these coins, which suggests the use of silvering paste composed of silver chloride. Other additives might be sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, potassium-hydrogen tartrate, mercuric chloride and chalk as a thickener. A similar technique of silvering of the surface of coins was purportedly used in Roman coinage from the late third to beginning of the fourth century AD.