Screening of Iberian Coinage in the 2^th‐1^th BCE Period Using the Voltammetry of Immobilized Particles

Abstract

The voltammetry of immobilized particles (VIMP) was applied for grouping a series of 86 Iberian coins nominally minted in the cities of Iltirta, Cástulo and Obulco in the 2th‐1th BCE period for which there are no chronological data. Using characteristic signatures for the reduction of cuprite, tenorite and lead corrosion products in the patina of the coins, voltammetric grouping of coins was proposed. Voltammetric data were found to be consistent with textural and compositional properties of the surface and subsurface of selected coins using FIB‐FESEM‐EDX. The obtained data confirmed a clear separation between the productions of Iltirta on one side, and those of Cástulo and Obulco on the other side, indicating the possibility to establish a rough chronology for these productions.

Solid-state electrochemical characterization of emissions and authorities producing Roman brass coins

“…In this context, we applied the VIMP methodology in order to acquire archaeometric information based on a minimally invasive (at the nanogram level) sampling on the metal patina. Application to the discrimination of different monetary series was described for silver [46], bronze [47][48][49][50] and copper [51] coins, but no studies on orichalcum materials have been done. This is based on the assumption that, under conditions of similar 'corrosion history', subtle differences in the composition and metallographic structure of the coins result in detectable features of the voltammetric response of the corrosion patina.…”

Electrochemistry in Archaeology and Art Conservation

“…[9,10] Here, the focus is centered on the differences between the voltammetric signatures of series of samples regardless the detailed knowledge of the composition of the studied systems. Examples include tracing and discriminating mints in monetary series [35,36] and characterizing provenances of glass [37] and ceramic materials, [38] all in the archaeological field. Figure 4 shows a photographic image of two Iberian coins from Castulo (Spain) dated back to 2 th 1 th BCE.…”

“…The VIMP study of a wide collection of Iberian coins permitted the grouping of samples from different mints and periods of manufacturing. [36] This approach is potentially useful in the field of archaeology, where it is frequent to dispose of a relatively large number of samples often fragmentary and frequently coming from sites with ill-defined stratigraphy. In general, the performance of the minute analysis with SEM and spectroscopic techniques has to be limited, by reasons of time disposal and cost, to a relatively reduced number of samples, so that the processing of a large number of samples requires of 'fast' analytical techniques.…”

“…[10] The development of these methodologies will . Photographic images of two Iberian coins from the archaeological site of Castulo (Jaén, Spain) from the collection of the Museu de Prehistòria de València studied in, [36] refs. a) 41540 and b) 42139.…”

“…Figure 4 shows a photographic image of two Iberian coins from Castulo (Spain) dated back to 2 th 1 th BCE. The VIMP study of a wide collection of Iberian coins permitted the grouping of samples from different mints and periods of manufacturing [36] …”