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In this paper, 'contextual numismatics' is presented as the most recent and innovative research direction in the field of numismatics. In addition, its further potential for research and the limit of gaining knowledge are outlined. A historical overview of the gradual development of an archaeological-oriented approach to numismatic material serves as an introduction to the discussion. This is followed by a presentation of the distinguishing features compared to other research methods to study Roman coin finds, as well as a discussion of possible paths and goals in the further development of this approach to study these culturally significant objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans have been shown to adapt their movements when a sudden or gradual change to the dynamics of the environment are introduced, a phenomenon called motor adaptation. If the change is reverted, the adaptation is also quickly reverted. Humans are also able to adapt to multiple changes in dynamics presented separately, and to be able to switch between adapted movements on the fly. Such switching relies on contextual information which is often noisy or misleading, affecting the switch between known adaptations. Recently, computational models for motor adaptation and context inference have been introduced, which contain components for context inference and Bayesian motor adaptation. These models were used to show the effects of context inference on learning rates across different experiments. We expanded on these works by using a simplified version of the recently-introduced COIN model to show that the effects of context inference on motor adaptation and control go even further than previously shown. Here, we used this model to simulate classical motor adaptation experiments from previous works and showed that context inference, and how it is affected by the presence and reliability of feedback, effect a host of behavioral phenomena that had so far required multiple hypothesized mechanisms, lacking a unified explanation. Concretely, we show that the reliability of direct contextual information, as well as noisy sensory feedback, typical of many experiments, effect measurable changes in switching-task behavior, as well as in action selection, that stem directly from probabilistic context inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are becoming an increasingly popular technology, used in a variety of fields such as medical, gaming, and lifestyle. This paper describes a 3D non-invasive BCI game that uses a Muse 2 EEG headband to acquire electroencephalogram (EEG) data and OpenViBE platform for processing the signals and classifying them into three different mental states: left and right motor imagery and eye blink. The game is developed to assess user adjustment and improvement in BCI environment after training. The classification algorithm used is Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), with 96.94% accuracy. A total of 33 subjects participated in the experiment and successfully controlled an avatar using mental commands to collect coins. The online metrics employed for this BCI system are the average game score, the average number of clusters and average user improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the first archaeometric results on a selection of ancient Roman coins (antoniniani) from a treasure found in the Roman necropolis area of ancient Cumae (Southern Italy) during archaeological campaigns by the Centre Jean Bérard. A multi-analytical approach consisting of non-destructive techniques (stereomicroscopy, FESEM-EDS, pXRF, Raman, μ-CT) was implemented on the better-preserved coins of the treasure in order to investigate the chemical composition of the alloy. Chemical analysis showed that the Roman mint prepared the metal with an argentiferous lead–bronze alloy. A group of coins presents a low content of the precious metal, which is in agreement with the financial crisis of the Roman Empire of the third century. Another group of two coins shows a higher silver content, which is in agreement with their issue or with the Mediolanum mint standards. In addition, the external layers of corroded coins were analysed to explore the state of conservation of the patina and to identify the corrosion products. Some typical corrosion patinas due to post-depositional conditions were identified. The mineralogical characterisation of the corrosion products enables us to implement adequate conservation strategies, and the presence of more aggressive patinas suggests immediate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceptions of current stimuli are sometimes biased toward or away from past perceptions. This phenomenon is called serial dependence. However, it remains unclear whether serial dependence originates from lower-order perceptual processing, higher-order perceptual processing or cognitive processing. We examined the effects of serial dependence when participants estimated the total number of coins or the monetary value of coins displayed and found attractive effects in both tasks. The attractive effect observed in the value estimation task suggests that serial dependence occurs through higher-order cognitive processes during calculation. We also examined the effect of response history (i.e., the responses of participants on previous trials), with multiple regression analyses that simultaneously evaluated the effects of the previous stimuli and responses. In both number and value estimation tasks, the immediately prior response had an attractive effect on current responses, while the immediately prior stimuli exerted a repulsive effect. This pattern suggests that the attractive serial dependence found in the single regression analysis was due to the correlation between stimulus and response in the previous trials and that the effect of past stimuli per se may be an adaptation that increases sensitivity to current stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Roman emperor' Sponsian is known only from an assemblage of coins allegedly found in Transylvania (Romania) in 1713. They are very unlike regular Roman coins in style and manufacture, with various enigmatic features including bungled legends and historically mixed motifs, and have long been dismissed as poorly made forgeries. Here we present non-destructive imaging and spectroscopic results that show features indicative of authenticity. Deep micro-abrasion patterns suggest extensive circulation-wear. Superficial patches of soil minerals bound by authigenic cement and overlain by oxidation products indicate a history of prolonged burial then exhumation. These observations force a re-evaluation of Sponsian as a historical personage. Combining evidence from the coins with the historical record, we suggest he was most likely an army commander in the isolated Roman Province of Dacia during the military crisis of the 260s CE, and that his crudely manufactured coins supported a functioning monetary economy that persisted locally for an appreciable period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research is focused on the 3-Polker coins issued during 1619–1627 by Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland. A major financial crisis took place at that time due to the 30-year War, which started in 1619. There are two theories among historians concerning the silver depreciation of these coins. The most common theory (generally accepted without proof) is that the later years of issue are depreciated below 60% Ag. The second theory is based on the medieval sources that indicate inflation during the years from 1621–1625, but the medieval source only refers to the inflation of the type of coins and does not mention the issuer. Therefore, in this study, we use modern investigation techniques and materials science methods to help historians elucidate the aforementioned aspects regarding the medieval period. The XRD investigation results are in good agreement with the SEM-EDX elemental analysis. The coins from 1619 and 1620 have high silver content, namely, 86.97% and 92.49%, which corresponds to good silver. The amount of Ag found in the coins from 1621–1625 issituated in the range of 63.2–74.6%. The silver titleis suddenly restored in 1626 at about 84.3% and is kept in a good range until the end of this decree under Sigismund III in 1627. In conclusion, the second theory was partly validated by our experimental results, certifying the currency depreciation during 1621–1625, but the silver title was not lower than 54.2%. Notably, even this depreciated silver title assures a good quality of the 3-Polker coins compared to similar coins issued in other countries that were copper–silver-plated. Therefore, the 3-Polker coins were preferably hoarded at that time.Small alterations in the mint mark's design were observed in all the depreciated coins compared to the good ones. This might be a sign for an expert to identify the depreciated coins, a fact which requires supplementary investigations. The silver title's restoration in 1626 also came with a complete change of the mintmark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the premiere of "Treasure Chest II with Blue Boy," a collaboration between intarsia master Nicolai Medvedev and jewelry designer Susan Helmich, at the AGTA show.

Coins were used to maintain the commercial activities on a specific standard. They are significant written sources that enlighten the political, economic, and cultural life of the period they were produced. It is possible to find the coin collections belonging to different periods of Turkish history in museums. One of the important groups of these coins belongs to the Ottoman period. Although there are studies covering the periods of some Ottoman sultans by using advanced analysis techniques in the literature, no scientific study has been carried out covering all periods. The most extensive information that can be found about the coins is from the Ottoman archive and inventory records. In this study, twenty-six Ottoman Empire coins from Sakarya Museum dated between the 14th-19th centuries were evaluated stylistically, physically, and chemically. The non-destructive analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was employed to identify the elemental composition of the coins. The chemical analysis of coins showed the connection between the political situation in the Ottoman Empire and the decline in the value of the money. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coins are commonly ingested foreign body (FB) in children, particularly the area just below the cricopharyngeus muscle, being the most common site of lodgement. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the upper airway as an investigation arm to guide and assist the clinical management of foreign body coin in children with expectant management for spontaneous passage. A total of 50 children with coin in upper oesophagus were chosen and POCUS was done in the preoperative area. Those in whom coin was visualised on POCUS were taken for retrieval under general anaesthesia and in whom coin was not visualised were taken for 2nd X-ray to confirm passage. In 50 children with a coin in upper oesophagus, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) showed the presence of coin in 44 children (confirmed on esophagoscopy) and spontaneous passage in 6 children (confirmed on 2nd X-ray), thus resulting in the reduction of approximately 88% of 2nd check X-ray to demonstrate the position of coin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to approach a study about the ongoing process of Romanization during the period of government of Tiberius by means of a provincial coin emission from Calagurris in the territory of the Vasconians. To achieve this objective we present an analysis of important elements shown on the coin: the imperial title on the obverse, the iconography and the two duoviri mentioned on the reverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akyurt Kalaba Tumulus, which is located in the Akyurt District of Ankara was excavated by the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in 2012. During the excavation, a burial chamber, which contained the dromos, the anterior chamber and the main chamber, was discovered close to the center of the Tumulus. In addition, cremains were found in ostotheks within the cremation areas, and in an inhumation burial near the southeast slope of the Tumulus. Coins found in the graves show that the tumulus was used between the middle of the first century and the beginning of the third century. In this study, the unearthed human remains are examined and evaluated with other archaeological findings in the context of mortuary practices. It was found that there were the inhumation remains of three adults and an infant, as well as the cremains of an adult, in the burial chamber. While the cremains of an adult woman and a 9-10 year old child were identified in the ostotheks, it is understood that the inhumation grave belonged to an adult. The examination of the remains of cremation (i.e. discolorations and changes in the shape of the bones) has indicated that the corpses of the dead were cremated while flesh remained on the bones, and the pyre fire in the cremation areas reached temperatures above 700-900°C. The presence of a well-preserved burial chamber with its architectural elements, cremation areas with ostotheks, and also the presence of different burial practices, make Akyurt Kalaba Tumulus unique among its similar sites. In the study, the Tumulus was evaluated holistically by using bioarcheological and archaeological data, along more conclusive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roman coins discovered in various points across the commune of Tăcuta (Vaslui County, Romania) are presented: Tăcuta-“Dealul Miclea” (a possible coin hoard, of which four denarii were recovered: 1 AR Traianus, 3 AR Marcus Aurelius (1 AR Faustina)); Focş;easca-“Pietrăria”(?) (1 AR Traianus, 1 AR Hadrianus) and Cujba (?) (2 AE Constantius II, 1 AE Valens). No information was available for the rest of the coins (1 AR sub., 1 AE Gordianus III, 1 AE Constantius II, 1 AE Valens). They are part of private collections (Şt. Ciudin), public collections (The “Ştefan cel Mare” Museum of Vaslui) or their traces were lost. The monetary items are correlated with the numerous archaeological vestiges of the “Poieneş;ti” or “Sântana de Mureş;-Chernyakhiv” type, known to have been found in this area. In addition, this work interprets the monetary finds of Tăcuta in the broader context of the presence of Roman coins in the “barbarian” territory east from the Carpathians, throughout the 2nd-4th centuries AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B I Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing for Advanced High-Tech Components i b is a new open Special Issue of I Materials i , which aims to publish original and review papers regarding new scientific and applied research and make great contributions to finding, exploring and understanding novel multi-material components via additive manufacturing. Also, A. Marques et al. [[2]] fabricated novel Inconel 718-copper parts by 3D multi-material laser powder bed fusion targeting rocket engines. Using advanced manufacturing technologies, such as laser powder bed fusion (adapted for manufacturing with different powders in 3D), different materials can be combined in a single component such as steel and copper, steel and titanium, Inconel and copper, Inconel and aluminum, titanium and cobalt, titanium and tantalum, titanium and zirconia, steel and silver, silver and gold, silver and copper, etc. [Extracted from the article]

According to the dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, numismatics is the discipline that studies coins and medals, mainly ancient ones. In other places, this definition includes the study and collection of paper money or banknotes. The information we can obtain from coins with a minimum study of the aspects that appear on them is surprising. In relation to vision and ophthalmology, they show us important figures in the field, ocular symbology, they tell us about mythology and religion and curious stories that we would hardly have known without looking at the coins. Finally, we will talk about an important 19th century Valencian ophthalmologist, Rafael Cervera y Royo, and the collection of ancient coins that bears his name. This work is not intended to be an exhaustive description of all the coins and medals that speak of vision, but rather a sample of the valuable information that numismatics contributes to our speciality and to stimulate the public's curiosity about this fascinating science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the current state of cultural patrimony law both internationally and domestically in the U.S., as of April 2016. Topics discussed include restriction on the importation of Ancient Egyptian coinage into the U.S.; Construction and Application of Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act's guidelines for restriction; and implications of broad importation restrictions on Ancient Egyptian coinage.

Shamsaddin Timurtâshî, a prominent Hanafî jurist, wrote a legal treatise entitled briefly Risâlah fi'n-Nuqûd, on monetary inconsistencies of his time. Husamuddin Affane from Quds University studied the treatise and published it as a book. The purpose of this paper is to introduce Risâlah fi'n-Nuqûd and to examine the important historical data that will allow us to understand this legal text. In the treatise, Timurtâshî classifies and analyzes exchange issues generated by the debasements implemented by the Ottoman government in the late 16th century. Among others, Timurtâshî addresses the legal dispute on how to make payments when coins are taken out of circulation or withdrawn from the market, or when the coin values change. He emphasizes that it is still an ongoing problem among his contemporary colleagues. To eliminate this dispute, he suggests following the Hanafî methodology of fatwa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numismatics is the hobby and art of collecting coins and banknotes from different eras and cultures. The reasons minted in various currencies allow us to know historical facts, empires, monarchs, evolution of art, customs and even allow us to display care related phenomena. This paper attempts to locate and identify world coins with images related to the practice of breastfeeding minted from 1900 to 2013 and its subsequent analysis using iconographic methodology. The currencies behave like an interesting and original source of study, yet to be discovered in its entirety, for the construction of the History of the Care and Nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report is presented from a November 22 and 23, 2012 conference in Erfurt, Germany on the history of Baroque numismatics. Topics of discussion included the activities of coin collector Andreas Morell, the political leaders of Saxony in the Baroque period, and the role of technology in coin identification and fraud prevention.

The collecting of things for pleasure is an almost universal human experience. Psychological studies tell us that it is deeply connected to the development of the self and of relations with the world and other people. This article explores collecting as serious leisure, reviews explanations of collecting behavior, and focuses on coin collectors as one example. The types and organization of numismatic literature are explored. A participant observation study of coin collectors in both face-to-face and electronic meeting places finds that they are motivated by the potential for self-development, social interactions with other collectors, and financial gains, and at times by compulsive collecting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What factors make individual bidders pay more or less for the same item in online auctions? We use data on over 55,000 bids over a three-year period collected by a customized Internet software agent. These data are used to perform a within-bidders quasi-experiment, testing bidders who bid on the exact same item at different times during a 30-day period in online auctions. With theories from information systems and consumer behavior as our theoretical lens, we then examine factors that make individuals pay more for the exact same item in online auctions. We find that the same individual will tend to pay more for items sold on a weekend, for items with a picture, and for items sold by experienced sellers. We also find that the same individual is willing to pay more for the same item if others express an interest in that item, exhibiting a type of herd effect. Our results are generalizable to other auctions, and shed light on electronic commerce sales in general, where firms try to sell products for the highest possible price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the effectiveness of multimedia cartography products may include mini-map design for navigation. In this study, we have touched upon designing gameplay to indicate the impact of the mini-map on the time effectiveness of a player that can walk or teleport himself/herself along marked out points in virtual topographic space. The eye-tracking examination of gamers' effectiveness in a non-complex game of collecting coins in a reconstructed stronghold on the holm provided us with a new perspective on the role of mini-maps. The more time gamers took to examine the mini-map, the more time they needed to finish the game, thus decreasing their effectiveness. The teleporting gamers had significantly higher time effectiveness than walking gamers, however, the data obtained showed only a minor difference between the proportions of the mini-map examination time to the total game time for walking and teleportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The Everyday Life Information Seeking approach suggests that much information behaviour takes place in non-work settings, for example in the pursuit of leisure activities such as hobbies. This study focuses on a community of collectors to examine how they gather information to decide whether to purchase an item for their collection when the target item has an ambiguous or deficient description. Method. Manual scanning of eBay and other online discussion board for coin buyers led to 187 postings indicating an attempt to reach a purchase decision, or to authenticate a purchased coin, through solicitation or posting of advice. Analysis. Postings were coded as to whether they dealt with 1. Ambiguous images in a listing, 2. Ambiguous statements in a listing, 3. Information missing from a listing, or 4. Sharing of other information (not restricted to a coin listing) that might possibly be used to make a purchase decision or authentication. Results. Using the example postings and the investigator's earlier experiences, a model of coin buyer decision making was created, outlining the different paths and strategies that collectors may take when faced with uncertainties. Conclusion. The Internet facilitates access to both documentary reference material, as well as human information sources. The formation of virtual communities is made possibly, alongside existing face-to-face communities of hobbyists. Further studies of collectors could benefit from comparisons of information behaviour in both virtual and actual worlds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]