Composition and characteristics of the coinage of two Hispano-Roman mints: analysis applied to the coins of Caesar Augusta (Zaragoza) and Emerita Augusta (Merida)
Keywords:
hispania, moneda romana, funcionamiento de las cecas, aleaciones, texturas, análisis neutrónico, SEM-EDS, XRFAbstract
We present here a line of research recently in progress and focused on the analysis of certain issues linked to the supply of Roman troops established in Hispania. Among our main objectives is the review of the mints of Caesar Augusta and Augusta Emerita, the two Hispanic-Roman mints that had the highest production volume and had a close link with the Roman army. The review of their coinage had previously
revealed diverse formal characteristics and differentiated areas of circulation. Among our main objectives is the verification by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) of the existing differences in the composition of the metal alloys and in the microstructure of the coins themselves. The third step has consisted in its analysis by neutron diffraction to observe their metallographic texture. At the same time, we tried to observe issues related to the porosity of the pieces and
their effect of corrosion that we consider could be of interest for the processes of restoration and consolidation of metallic materials.
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