Archaeometallurgical Characterization of Numismatic Artifacts

The discovery of metals and alloys greatly contributed to the development of human civilizations; their role in shaping history is recognized by the scientific community even through the denomination of some archaeological periods (Copper Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age). Archaeometallurgy appeared from the application of usually non destructive analytical techniques for the characterization of cultural heritage objects, with emphasis on metal artifacts. This article presents a case study regarding the application of fast and non-destructive methods (energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and metallurgical microscopy) for the characterization of selected numismatic artifacts, thus obtaining information regarding their composition, authenticity, and state of preservation.