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Microanalysis of the Chemical Composition of the Surface of Teiranes Staters of AD 276/7–278/9: Silvering Technique

  • METHODS OF NATURAL SCIENCES IN THE STUDY OF CULTURAL HERITAGE OBJECTS
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Abstract

The results of studying the chemical composition of the surface of staters of the Bosporan king Teiranes of AD 276/7–278/9 are considered. Metallographic investigation and X-ray spectral microanalysis make it possible for the first time to establish the fact of silvering the surface of staters made of an alloy based on copper with a small amount of silver, sometimes tin and lead. Also, for the first time in the silver surface layer of these coins, the presence of chlorine, calcium, sodium and magnesium is revealed. This indicates the possible use of special pastes containing chlorides of silver, sodium, ammonium and mercury, potassium hydrotartrate and chalk for the silvering of late Bosporan staters from AD 275.

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Funding

The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant no. 18-18-00193P).

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Correspondence to M. G. Abramzon, Yu. Yu. Efimova or I. A. Saprykina.

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Abramzon, M.G., Efimova, Y.Y., Koptseva, N.V. et al. Microanalysis of the Chemical Composition of the Surface of Teiranes Staters of AD 276/7–278/9: Silvering Technique. Nanotechnol Russia 17, 638–643 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S2635167622050020

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S2635167622050020

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