The compositional analysis of copper and bronze Greek coins found at Histria (Acropolis Centre-South Sector) using a portable X-Ray fluorescence spectrometer

Abstract

A number of 42 Greek coins (most of them issued and/ or circulated at Histria during the autonomous period of the city and several issued by Histria during Roman times) were found during the 2013‐ 2016 archaeological campaigns conducted in the Acropolis Centre‐ South Sector. The coins, made of copper and copper‐ based alloys, were subject to a non‐ invasive compositional analysis using a portable X‐ Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, in order to determine trends and technological choices in the coinage production. The composition of these items was compared to that characterising a batch of coins found at Histria during older excavations

Keywords

• histria
• acropolis centre‐ south sector
• greek coins
• xrf analysis