The percentage composition of metallic silver coins can be used to analyse and explain the locations and identification of coin mines. Furthermore, it provides certain information about the economic and political conditions of the era under study. Commercial activity and population growth increased the demand for silver, forcing the Sasanians to look for new sources for this metal. The aim of this work is to study the chemical composition of these Sasanian coins in order to find possible connections between the mines used for extraction of silver and the actual silver coins minted at the time. Using the wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique, the metallic elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Ag, Au and Pb were traced. The results indicate that Sasanian kings used one type of mines for their coins.

No abstract

No abstract