Neutron imaging and scattering methods are successful in separating the components of coin alloys with neighboring elements: iron and nickel, copper and zinc, copper and silver, copper and lead. The fundamental difference in nature of neutron interaction with matter compared to X-rays provides additional benefits to neutron methods, including sensitivity to light elements, a notable difference in contrast between isotopes and high penetration effect through metals or heavy elements. In this context, we should also mention the neutron radiography and neutron diffraction methods as relatively modern structural non-destructive experimental approaches. Currently, coins are being intensely investigated by means of non-destructive physical methods, such as traditional techniques like metallography or X-ray diffraction. The structural data obtained by these methods expand the possibilities of traditional studies of coins and provide knowledge about such aspects as the correlations of the nominal and metal value of coins, the identification of crisis periods, trade and political connections between ancient states and cultural groups, etc. Taking into account the obtained results, the origin and use of these coins in the light of historical and economic processes of the Bosporan Kingdom are discussed.Ī detailed study of the chemical composition of ancient numismatic materials using structurally non-destructive diagnostic methods has gradually occupied its niche in the archeological natural-scientific research approaches. The neutron tomography method not only provided 3D data of the spatial distribution of the bronze alloy and the patina with corrosion contamination inside coin volumes, but also restored the minting pattern of several studied coins. All coins are highly degraded corrosion and patina areas occupy volumes from ~27 % to ~62 % of the original coin volumes. It was determined that the coins are mainly made of a bronze alloy, a tin content that falls in the range of 1.1(2)–7.9(3) wt.%. These coins were discovered at the location of an ancient Greek settlement during archaeological excavations on the “Volna-1” necropolis in Krasnodar Region, Russian Federation. The studied coins are interesting from a historical and cultural point of view, as they are “Charon’s obol’s”. The chemical and elementary composition, internal arrangement, and spatial distribution of the components of ancient Greek copper coins were studied using XRF analysis, neutron diffraction and neutron tomography methods.
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