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Archaeo-metallurgical study on two early historic punch marked coins

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Abstract

A metallurgical investigation was carried out on two early historic silver and copper punch marked coins. The objective was to study the metal composition, and the methods used in making of the early historic coins in India. The inductively coupled mass spectrometry was used to analyze the elemental composition of the coins. Metal formation and its mechanical properties were studied in physical metallurgical laboratory. The study revealed that the coins were not pure metal but an alloy. The silver coin contained copper as a major alloying element with other elements viz., V, Fe, Zn, Sn, Pb, As, Au in trace level while in copper the coin lead was the main alloying element with Ni, Fe, As, Au and Co in trace.

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  • 23 December 2021

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the help of Shri Sankararaman for providing the coins for study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NIOT, 9A/3, 3rd Seaward Road, Valmikinagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, India

    B. Sasisekaran

  2. IIT Madras, Chennai, India

    B. Raghunatha Rao

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  1. B. Sasisekaran
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  2. B. Raghunatha Rao
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Correspondence to B. Sasisekaran.

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Sasisekaran, B., Raghunatha Rao, B. Archaeo-metallurgical study on two early historic punch marked coins. Indian J Hist. Sci. 56, 109–114 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43539-021-00014-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43539-021-00014-0

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