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A series of corroded Safavid copper coins (folus) dating to the seventeenth century CE and minted in Isfahan were discovered in Hamedan, Western Iran. A selection of these coins was studied to identify the minting process, corrosion morphology and mechanisms, and their state of conservation. Eight coins from two hoards were analysed using metallography, ICP–OES, SEM–EDS and XRD to identify their metal/alloy compositions and microstructures, as well as the chemical compositions of any corrosion layers and products. The results showed that the coins were minted from blanks using thermo-mechanical processing to produce their relief-like surfaces. The corrosion morphology was found to include a two-layered corrosion crust in which the original surface was well-retained, and the corrosion mechanisms identified were internal dissolution and oxidation of copper and the formation of copper (II) compounds over the original surface. The presence of chloride compounds in the corrosion products showed that the coins have been suffering from 'bronze disease' so that any preventive conservation must include keeping the relative humidity of their storage and exhibition environments below 45%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hoard lot contain 39 “Thasian type” tetradrachms and 6 imitations. Because of the correspondence between dies we suppose that 4 of those imitations were being struck in the same minting place. In the case of imitations we have many writing errors, letters that were poorly copied after the “Thasian type” tetradrachms issued under the roman control. In majority of cases the monogram is of type 6, after Prokopov typology. Despite the fact that the discovery place is unknown, it is possible that this group of coins to be part of the Cașolț hoard found in 1777. We think that the hiding moment of this monetary deposit can be related with the one of Șieu-Odorhei hoard placed around 60 B.C. This low dating in concordance with the semnificative presence of imitations in the hoard. It’s very possible that a hoard horizon to be created in the connection with the expansion of Burebista’s power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hoard of Preuschdorf is a monetary deposit discovered in Alsace (France) in 2005. This find was composed of 7327 silver-copper coins. They seem to have been struck over more than one century, between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 17th century. This hoard is an exceptional find composed of a large quantity of coins from various periods, areas and contexts. It is also remarkable by the presence of counterfeit coins. IBA was used to analyze the silver content of the official coins by combining PIXE and RBS. The fineness was found to be between 20 and 42% according to the mint place and an unexpected subdivision of the values has been revealed. For the counterfeit coins, the analyses were able to bring to light different elaboration processes: amalgam silvering with two various contents of mercury and application of a thin layer of pure silver. Finally, linen fibers attached to the coins have been dated by AMS radiocarbon dating. The radiocarbon calibrated dates perfectly match with the chronological range given by the coins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient coinage, almost exclusively Roman denarii from the 1st or 2nd century AD, constitutes a small percentage of hoards and other assemblages dated (with the latest coins present) to either the Middle Ages or to the modern period in the territory of present-day Poland. Such finds can be seen as strongly indicating that ancient coinage did function as means of payment at that time. This hypothesis is further supported by written sources. Moreover, ancient coins have also been recorded at other sites in medieval and modern period contexts e.g. in burial sites, which are less easy to interpret than hoards. Finds often include pierced coins and others showing suspension loops, which suggests they may have been used as amulets, jewellery or devotional medals. Other finds, such as Roman coins placed in alms boxes in modern period churches in Silesia, also point to a religious context. At the same time, written sources attest that at least since the Late Middle Ages, Roman denarii were known to common people as 'St John's pennies'. The name is associated with a Christian interpretation of the image of the emperor's head on the coin, resembling that of John the Baptist on a silver platter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first full account of the 1960 Shechem hoard, partially published by Sellers in 1962, and consisting of 35 Ptolemaic tetradrachms. It corrects some attributions and dates in Seller's original publication. These corrections date the concealment to 199/8 BCE, rather than 190 BCE as Sellers proposed, a change that is historically significant. Moreover, the hoard contains four coins of Ptolemy IV Philopator, only one of which is a variety listed by Svoronos. These coins provide information on Philopator's coinage and its economic role in the region at the time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Persian coins and coins of the western Anatolian cities that fell under the Persian rule in 574/46 B.C. Also, through Persian coin hoards/ treasures obtained from the ruins in Western Anatolia, it analyzes in a chronological order how, when and to where Persian rule extended and how Persian authorities approached toward minting coins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reconsiders some conclusions that have been put forward concerning the silver hoard found at the Median site Nush-i Jan and discusses its implications to Median history and economy in general. It concludes that Median society seems to have been able to adapt to the use of money and to the Near Eastern way of registering accumulated incomes, a fact that points toward a certain complexity of both social and economic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]