Characterization of the mistura alloy used for Venetian sesino coins: 16th century

Abstract

The information provided by material investigations on ancient coins is interesting in many respects, as concerns the archaeological and historical research.In this study a set of Venetian sesino coins, minted over a period ranging from 1554 until 1605, have been investigated in order to shed light on some aspects of the so-called mistura (mixture) alloy. The widespread diffusion of these relatively low-value coins of the Venetian Republic, commonly used in commercial transactions in the second half of 16th century, also outside the territories of the Republic, makes them an important proxy to be used in the reconstruction of the political and historical events of the period. The specific issue of the actual composition of the mistura alloy is herewith addressed for the first time, using a combined approach based on X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction nondestructively applied to the analysis of the samples. It turns out that the mistura alloy, traditionally regarded as a Cu-Ag two phase alloy, over the latest period of circulation of the sesino coins, was actually made of copper only, still containing minor concentrations of lead, to be regarded as an impurity of the alloy and not as an intentional addition.

Double-Relief Silver Coins Minted in the Greek Colonies (444–390/340–280/270 BC) of Southern Italy Analysed by XRF

“…For ancient silver alloy coins, the presence of thick silver-enriched surface layers [26,65] is quite common. In this case, XRF analysis may overestimate the silver content as it is unable to analyse the inner core, and therefore, no accurate quantification of fineness (precious metal) can be obtained for debased coins.…”

“…The XRF technique also allows the determination of the concentration, depth distribution and trace elements, which are useful for quantifying many features of an object [15,16]. In particular, it is also widely used in the study of ancient coins [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. As part of a project to study the ancient coins in the collection of the Museo Provinciale Campano (Capua, Italy), a series of ancient coins (incuse) has already been studied using this technique, as well as with numismatic analysis [3,30].…”

“…quantifying many features of an object [15,16]. In particular, it is also widely used in th study of ancient coins [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. As part of a project to study the ancient coins in the collec tion of the Museo Provinciale Campano (Capua, Italy), a series of ancient coins (incuse has already been studied using this technique, as well as with numismatic analysis [3,30 In [31], numismatic and historical studies were combined with metallurgical researc based on non-destructive neutron diffraction, neutron structure analysis and neutron to mography to provide an overview of the minting of incuse coins.…”