Influence of striking praxis and chemical corrosion in weight variations of a big sample of Syracusan bronze coins
Abstract
The Poseidon’s head/Trident “small flan” bronze coins of Hieron II of Syracuse (275-215 BC) had different proposals of chronology. 2 big hoard of 2,229 pieces overall of these coins were analytically studied. Their weights have great fluctuations but this is not a sign of a long time issue because the same fluctuations are frequent in pieces produced in the same time from the same pair of dies. Parallels to the different conservation of the coins of the 2 hoards are little variations of their medium weights and also a respectful cleaning not produced relevant variations in their weights. The fluctuations of the weights of contemporaneous coins are signs of “al marco” striking. Their chronology was very restricted, probably in 215-214 BC.
Event details
- Event
- MetroArchaeo 2016
- Technical Committee
- TC4
- emma.angelini@polito.it
- Place
- Torino, ITALY
- Time
- 19 October 2016 - 21 October 2016