XRF analysis of Augustan coins - Agenda (Indico) · Caesaraugusta Pergamum Lugdunum. Quinarii quinarii struck in Brundisium Are different from denarii struck in the same mint!! XRF

XRF analysis of Augustan coins

Astrik Gorghinian *, Adolfo Esposito*, Marco Ferretti**, Fiorenzo Catalli***

Channeling 2012, Alghero 23-28 september 2012

Aureus Pergamum 19-18 BC 35724/3 – 7.58 g

*Istituto Nazionale Fisica Nucleare Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati

** Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto per le Tecnologie Applicate ai Beni Culturali

***

AUGUSTUS Caius Octavius Thurinus

XRF analyses of Augustan coins 2

First Roman Emperor 27 BC – 14 AD Monetary Refom 23-20 BC (Weights, changes, composition)


The collection

Provenance

Archaeological Museum of Florence

(Grand Ducal coin cabinet)

Former owner

Medici and Este families

477 coins dated between 36 BC & 12 AD

eagle mark in Ag from Este collection

Aureus Lugdunum 2 BC – 4 AD 35724/7 – 7.88 g


Nemausus

.

Roman Imperial Mints


XRF spectrometer

Unisantis XMF 104 Measurment Geometry

Microscope X-ray tube

Detector

X-ray filter

Targeting lasers

Polycapillary lens Sample

Sample stage


XRF features ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION SURFACE ANALYSIS (layer depth 10 to 50 mm) QUANTITATIVE (if surface significant of bulk)

NON DESTRUCTIVE RAPID

Elemental composition allows to

group objects / evaluate compositional differences / test authenticity


Experimental set up

X-ray Tube Anode Mo

HV = 50 kV

I = 100 mA

t = 200 s

Optics Kumakhov lens f = 50 mm

Detector Si-PIN Shaping time 20 ms Area = 7 mm2

Detection limits

Au matrix: Ag 0.03%, Cu 1%

Ag matrix: Cu, Zn, As 0.03%; Au, Pb, Bi 0.01%

Cu matrix: Fe 0.006%; Ni 0.03%; Ag, Sn, Sb 0.2%; Pb 0.08%

Au, Ag: General Results

Au

Aurei (46)

Gold Quinarii (4)

Au≈100% for 46 coins

Ag (15-19%) & Cu (4-6%)

for 4 coins

3 of them are suspect fakes

Ag

Ag>92% for 150 denarii

Ag<92% for 5 denarii

silver plated 10 coins

Cu≈98.5 % 1 coin fake

Minor elements distinguish mints

Quinarii and Denarii from Brundisium are different


Cu (AES): General Results

Cu-Zn (Aurichalcum-brass)

Zn<19.2%

Sn and Pb correlated <1%

Sestertii (30)

3 possible fakes

Dupondii (25)

Cu> 96% for 5 coins

Sn & Pb content > 1%

for 2 coins

Cu

Asses (152)

91%<Cu<98%

Sn or Pb, Sn & Pb contents >1% for 7 coins

Trace elements distinguish date of issue

Semisses (8): Cu-Zn alloy!!

Quadrantes (32)

Cu≈98%


Denarii: Au content

Lugdunum

High Au

Rome/Spain

Medium Au

Brundisium

Low Au


Denarius Brundisium/Roma 29-27 BC 35724/167 – 3.67 g

32-2

9aC -- --

29-2

7aC --

28-2

0aC -- --

21 a

C

20-1

9aC -- --

19 a

C -- --

19 a

C --

19-1

8 aC

-- --

18 a

C --

18-1

7/16

aC --

17aC

--

16aC

--

15-1

3aC -- --

13aC

12aC

--

11-1

0aC

8aC --

2aC

-4dC

-- ?

0

1

2

3

4

5

Au

%

date of issue

Denarius

Mints

Cyrenaica 31-30/29 a.C.

?

Brundisium

Ephesus

Emerita

Samos

Nord Peloponneso

Colonia Patricia

Roma

Caesaraugusta

Pergamum

Lugdunum

Denarii: Cu content

Lugdunum

Very low Cu

Rome/Spain

Medium Cu

Brundisium

Low Cu


prim

a 2

7aC

32-2

9aC -- --

29-2

7aC --

28-2

0aC -- --

21 a

C

20-1

9aC -- --

19 a

C -- --

19 a

C --

19-1

8 a

C -- --

18 a

C --

18-1

7/1

6 a

C --

17aC --

16aC --

15-1

3aC -- --

13aC --

12aC

11-1

0aC

8aC --

2aC

-4dC -- -- ?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 Denarius

Mint

Cyrenaica s31-30/29 a.C.

?

Brundisium

Ephesus

Emerita

Samos

Nord Peloponneso

Colonia Patricia

Roma

Caesaraugusta

Pergamum

Lugdunum

Cu

%

date of issue


Denarii: Pb content

Lugdunum

Low Pb

Rome/Spain

High Pb

Brundisium

Very low Pb



prim

a 2

7aC

32-2

9aC -- --

29-2

7aC --

28-2

0aC -- --

21 a

C

20-1

9aC -- --

19 a

C -- --

19 a

C --

19-1

8 a

C -- --

18 a

C --

18-1

7/1

6 a

C --

17aC --

16aC --

15-1

3aC -- --

13aC --

12aC

11-1

0aC

8aC --

2aC

-4dC -- -- ?

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

1,4

Pb

%

date of issue

Denarius

Mint

Cyrenaica 31-30/29 a.C.

?

Brundisium

Ephesus

Emerita

Samos

Nord Peloponneso

Colonia Patricia

Roma

Caesaraugusta

Pergamum

Lugdunum

Quinarii

quinarii struck in Brundisium

Are different

from denarii struck

in the same mint!!


0,00 0,25 0,50 0,75 1,00

0,00

0,25

0,50

0,75

1,00 0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

Denari- Brundisium/Roma 32-29 a.C.

Denari- Brundisium/Roma 29-27 a.C.

Quinari- Brundisium/Roma 29-26 a.C.

Quinari- Emerita 25-23 a.C.

Quinari- Nord Peloponneso 21 a.C.

Pb %Au %

Cu %

Quinarius= 1/2 denarius Brundisium/Roma 29-26 BC 35724/207, 1.55 g

Sestertii

2.6%<Zn<19.2% - Zn distribution increases by time – Sn and Pb correlated


Sestertius Rome, C. Asinius Gallus

16 BC 35724/235 – 25.80 g

18aC -- 17aC -- -- 16aC -- -- 15aC -- 8dC -- 10dC

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Zn

%

date of issue

Sestertius

Ephesus

Roma

Lugdunum

0,1 1

0,1

1

detection

limit

35691/9

35724/43635724/447

reproduction?

Pb

%

Sn %

Sestertius

Ephesus 25 a.C.

Roma 18 a.C.

Roma 17 a.C.

Roma 16 a.C.

Roma 15 a.C.

Lugdunum 8 d.C.

Lugdunum 10 d.C.

Dupondii

5 coins (over 25) are made of Cu> 96%

2 coins have Sn and Pb content > 1%

one of these (35724/333)

has Sn and Pb contents

near to the fake sestertii


Dupondius = 1/2 Sestertius

Lugdunum 10 AD 35724/256 – 10.70 g

0,1 1

0,1

1

detection limit

35724/417

35724/333

Pb

%

Sn %

Sestertius

Dupondius

Roma 18 a.C.

Roma 17 a.C.

Roma 16 a.C.

Roma 15 a.C.

Roma 7 a.C.

Lugdunum 8 d.C.

Lugdunum 10 d.C.


Ni, Ag, Sb are more abundant in 7 BC production

As Rome, C. Cassius

Celer

16 BC 35724/335 – 10.28g

ASSES

20-1

0aC

16aC

16aC

15aC --

15aC --

7aC --

7aC --

7aC --

6aC

8dC

10-1

4dC

11-1

2dC

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

Ni %

date of issue

As

Mint

Narbo B.C. 36(?)-35

Ephesus B.C. 25

Nemausus

Roma

Lugdunum

20-1

0aC

16aC

16aC

15aC --

15aC --

7aC --

7aC --

7aC --

6aC

8dC

10-1

4dC

11-1

2dC

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

1,4

1,6

1,8

Detection

Limit

Ag

%

date of issue

As

Mint

Narbo B.C. 36(?)-35

Ephesus B.C. 25

Nemausus

Roma

Lugdunum

20-1

0aC

16aC

16aC

15aC --

15aC --

7aC --

7aC --

7aC --

6aC

8dC

10-1

4dC

11-1

2dC

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

1,4

1,6

1,8

Detection

Limit

Sb

%

date of issue

As

Mint

Narbo B.C. 36(?)-35

Ephesus B.C. 25

Nemausus

Roma

Lugdunum


Ag - Ni are slightly correlated Ag - Sb are correlated

From Pb isotopes analysis Copper supply: mainly Sardigna and South Spain occasionaly Tuscany S. Klein Y. Lahaye G.P. Brey, The early roman imperial AES coniage II: tracing the copper sources by analysis of lead and copper isotopes-copper coins of Augustus and Tiberius, Archeaometry 46, 3 (2004) 469-480

ASSES

0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

Detection

Limit

Ni%

Ag%

As

Narbo 36 a.C.

Nemausus 20-10 a.C. Nemausus 10-14 d.C.

Roma AG Roma CC Roma GL 16 a.C.

Roma NS Roma P Roma PR 15 a.C.

Roma LA Roma MT Roma SO 7 a.C.

Roma LN Roma NQ Roma VVM 6 a.C.

Roma 11-12 a.C.

Lugdunum 8 d.C. Lugdunum 10 d.C.

0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

1,4

1,6

1,8

2,0

Detection

Limit

Detection

Limit

Sb

%

Ag %

As

Narbo 36 a.C.

Nemausus 20-10 a.C. Nemausus 10-14 d.C.

Ephesus

Roma AG Roma CC Roma GL 16 a.C.

Roma NS Roma P Roma PR 15 a.C.

Roma LA Roma MT Roma SO 7 a.C.

Roma LN Roma NQ Roma VVM 6 a.C.

Roma 11-12 d.C.

Lugdunum 8 d.C. Lugdunum 10 d.C.

Semisses

Little statistics (8 coins)

Semisses are made of Cu-Zn alloy, similar to sestertii and dupondii (not pure Cu as request)

The only semis by Philippi is completely different from alll the aes coins (Zn 0.3%, Sn 7.5%, Pb 3.4% : it’s a bronze)


Semis =1/2 as

Lugdunum 8 AD 35702/23 - 4.66g

Quadrantes

Quadrantes are mainly composed by Cu≈98%

(Sn < detection limit, Ag and Sb are around the detection limit, Pb<0.6%)


Quadrans= 1/4 as Roma, Lamia Silius Annius

9 BC 35724/366, 3.03 g

14%<Zn<18% for 3 coins minted at Lugdunum (one suspected fake) Note: except 2 coins from Lugdunum all the analyzed qadrantes are minted after 9 BC

Quadrans Lugdunum 10 AD 35724/446, 3.04 g

Modern reproduction

AES (base metal) Comparison

Sestertii/Dupondii

Pb & Sn: present

Sb: absent

Ag: present in dupondii,

absent in sestertii

Asses/Quadrantes

Pb & Sn: almost absent

Sb: present (asses 16-15

BC, some quadrantes)

Ag: present (<asses 16-

15 BC, quadrantes 4-5 BC)



Conclusion:

Cu coins contain Sb

Cu-Zn coins contain Sn & Pb

AES

36-3

5aC --

25aC --

20-1

0aC --

18aC --

17aC --

16aC --

15aC --

15-1

0aC

9aC

8aC

7aC --

6aC

5aC

4aC

8dC

8dC -- --

10dC

10dC

10dC

10-1

4dC

11-1

2dC

0,0

0,4

0,8

1,2

1,6

2,0

2,4

2,8

3,2

3,6

4,0

4,4

4,8

5,2

5,6

6,0

Detection

Limit

Sn

%

date of issue

As

Narbo

Ephesus

Nemusus

Roma

Lugdunum

Quadrans

Lugdunum

Roma

Sestertius

Ephesus

Roma

Lugdunum

Dupondius

Roma

Lugdunum

Semis

Lugdunum

36-3

5aC --

25aC --

20-1

0aC --

18aC --

17aC --

16aC --

15aC --

15-1

0aC

9aC

8aC

7aC --

6aC

5aC

4aC

8dC

8dC -- --

10dC

10dC

10dC

10-1

4dC

11-1

2dC

0,0

0,4

0,8

1,2

1,6

2,0

Detection

Limit

Sb %

date of issue

As

Narbo

Ephesus

Nemusus

Roma

Lugdunum

Quadrans

Lugdunum

Roma

Sestertius

Ephesus

Roma

Lugdunum

Dupondius

Roma

Lugdunum

Semis

Lugdunum

36-3

5aC --

25aC --

20-1

0aC --

18aC --

17aC --

16aC --

15aC --

15-1

0aC

9aC

8aC

7aC --

6aC

5aC

4aC

8dC

8dC -- --

10dC

10dC

10dC

10-1

4dC

11-1

2dC

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

1,4

1,6

1,8

Detection

Limit

Ag

%

date of issue

As

Narbo

Ephesus

Nemusus

Roma

Lugdunum

Quadranti

Lugdunum

Roma

Sesterzi

Ephesus

Roma

Lugdunum

Dupondi

Roma

Lugdunum

Semissi

Lugdunum

Thanks for your Attention


Augustus, Pontifex Maximus After B.C. 12

Museo Nazionale Romano Palazzo Massimo Rome

Mint provenance

Aurei (50) - Lugdunum 50%, Colonia Patricia 17%, Brundisium,

13%, Rome 7%, other 13%

Denarii (166) – Rome 24%, Lugdunum 23%, Colonia Patricia 20%,

Brundisium 15%, other 18%;

Quinari (16) – Brundisium 88%

Sextertii (30) – Rome 77%, Lugdunum 23%, other 3%

Dupondii (25) – Rome 72%, Lugdunum 28%

Semisses (8) - Lugdunum 7 coins, Philippi 1 coin

Asses (152) – Rome 88.7%, Lugdunum 5.3%, other 6%

Quadrantes (32) – Rome 91%, Lugdunum 9%



The Augustan Reform B.C. 23 – B.C. 20

aur quin Au

denar quin Ag

sester dupon as sem quad

aureus 7,79 g 2 25 50 100 200 400 800 1600

quinarius 3,89g 12,5 25 50 100 200 400 800

denarius 3,89g 2 4 8 16 32 64

quinarius 1,94 g 2 4 8 16 32

sestertius 27,28g 2 4 8 16

dupondius 13,64 g 2 4 8

as 10,91 g 2 4

semis 5,20 g 2

quadrans 1,70 g

Documents

XRF analysis of Augustan coins - Agenda (Indico) · Caesaraugusta Pergamum Lugdunum. Quinarii quinarii struck in Brundisium Are different from denarii struck in the same mint!! XRF