LAMQS and XRF analyses of ancient Egyptian bronze coins

A set of Egyptian bronze coins, dating back to the sixth or seventh century AD, has been studied by different experimental techniques in order to compare their composition and surface morphology, the process of coinage and, possibly, to also identify the place of production. The measurements have been performed by laser ablation with mass quadrupole spectrometry and energy dispersed X-ray fluorescence. Both analyses are non-invasive and can be safely used according to the integrity requirements of the analyzed pieces. Owing to the poor number of available samples, this work, more than to solve a numismatic question, has been carried out in order to test the validity of the above experimental techniques in view of further analyses on the same coins, based on better quality statistics. The preliminary results, presented in this paper, indicate significant differences in the chemistry of the coins' patina, i.e. composition and isotopic species content. This seems to support, in agreement with the archaeological expectations, the hypothesis of the existence of a local mint in Antinoopolis, never before considered in Egyptian numismatics. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.