Complex archaeometallurgical investigation of silver coins from the XVIth-XVIIIth century

The paper presents the archaeometallurgical study of seven silver coins, using several nuclear techniques (X-ray fluorescence - XRF, X-ray diffraction - XRD, Particle induced X-ray emission - PIXE) and optical microscopy. The study was performed using bulk methods and micro-area measurements in order to establish their composition, as well as the presence of corrosion products. This could, in turn, provide information in support of the categorization in genuine/possible forgery. From the analyzed set of samples, six can be surely categorized as genuine, while one raises some questions. A decisive conclusion cannot be drawn for one of the analyzed samples, but the scientific evidences suggest either a misstruck or a forgery approximately contemporary with the original issue of these coins.