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Chemical Composition and Microchemistry of “Free Galloping Horse” Bronze Punic Coins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

G.M. Ingo ,
L-I. Manfredi ,
S. Caroli ,
G. Bultrini ,
G. Chiozzini  and
P. Delle Femmine
G.M. Ingo
Affiliation:
C.N.R. - ICMAT, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
L-I. Manfredi
Affiliation:
C.N.R. - ICFP, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
S. Caroli
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, v. le Regina Elena no 299, 00161 Roma (Italy)
G. Bultrini
Affiliation:
C.N.R. - ICFP, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
G. Chiozzini
Affiliation:
C.N.R. - ICMAT, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
P. Delle Femmine
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, v. le Regina Elena no 299, 00161 Roma (Italy)
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Abstract

A large group of the so called “free galloping horse” bronze Punic coins, that is the most common series largely diffused in the Mediterranean basin, has been found during the archaeological excavation at Tharros (western Sardinia, Italy). Forty-seven coins have been studied in order to determine the chemical composition and the microchemical structure of the copper alloys used by Punies for the coinage of this series and to gain further information about the metal ores used to produce the metals. The results have shown that copper, tin, iron, silver, antimony, lead, zinc and arsenic vary significantly thus indicating different trends in the alloys production. The content of the major and minor elements has also indicated that Punic metallurgists controlled only the content of some elements to within quite narrow limits and when deliberate adding was used just to increase the metal to fill the mould, as might sometimes be the case with the addition of lead instead of the more expensive tin.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 462: Symposium DD – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology V , 1996 , 417
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

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References

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