Raman spectroscopy characterization of 10-cash productions from the late Chinese emperors to the Republic

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Montoya, Noemí, Montagna, Elena, Lee, Yu, Domenech Carbo, Mª Teresa, Doménech Carbó, Antonio. (2017). Raman spectroscopy characterization of 10-cash productions from the late Chinese emperors to the Republic.Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 48, 10, 1337-1345. DOI: 10.1002/jrs.5218 , which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.5218. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.[EN] The use of Raman spectroscopy for discriminating monetary emissions, a recurrent problem in much archaeological studies, is described. The method involves the record of Raman signatures of tenorite and crystalline and defective cuprite in the patina based on the idea that subtle, mint-characteristic variations in the composition and metallography of the base metal during the manufacturing process are reflected in the variation in depth of the composition and crystallinity of the corrosion patina. The technique was applied to a series of 10-cash copper coins produced around the transition between the Kuang Hsu and Hsuan Tung last Chinese emperors and the first Republic whose averaged composition was 95 +/- 1% wt Cu plus 5 +/- 1% wt Zn often accompanied by traces of Sn and Pb. Raman data, corroborated by focusing ion beam-field emission scanning electron microscopy and voltammetry of immobilized particles measurements, suggested the possibility of discerning between different provincial and regular unified currency productions.MINECO, Grant/Award Number: CTQ2014-53736-C3-1-P and CTQ2014-53736-C3-2-PMontoya, N.; Montagna, E.; Lee, Y.; Domenech Carbo, MT.; Domenech Carbo, A. (2017). Raman spectroscopy characterization of 10-cash productions from the late Chinese emperors to the Republic. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy. 48(10):1337-1345. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.5218S13371345481

Dating Archaeological Strata in the Magna Mater Temple Using Solid-state Voltammetric Analysis of Leaded Bronze Coins

[EN] The application of solid state electrochemistry techniques for dating archaeological strata using lead-containing bronze coins is described. The proposed methodology was applied to samples coming from the Roman archaeological site of Magna Mater Temple (Rome, Italy) occurring in different strata dating back between the second half and the end of the 4(th) century A.D. and the 20(th) century. The voltammetric signatures of copper and lead corrosion products in contact with aqueous acetate buffer, as well as the catalytic effects produced on the hydrogen evolution reaction, were used for establishing the age of different strata and dating coins belonging to unknown age. Voltammetric data were consistent with a theoretical approximation based on a potential rate law for the corrosion process.Financial support from the MINECO Projects CTQ2014-53736-C3-1-P and CTQ2014-53736-C3-2-P which are supported with ERDF funds is gratefully acknowledged. PhD grants of the Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, are gratefully thanked.Di Turo, F.; Montoya, N.; Piquero-Cilla, J.; De Vito, C.; Coletti, F.; Favero, G.; Domenech Carbo, MT.... (2018). Dating Archaeological Strata in the Magna Mater Temple Using Solid-state Voltammetric Analysis of Leaded Bronze Coins. Electroanalysis. 30(2):361-370. https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.201700724S36137030

Electrochemical Characterization of Coinage Techniques the 17(th) Century: The maravedis Case

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Doménech Carbó, A.; Domenech Carbo, MT.; Álvarez-Romero, C.; Montoya, N.; Pasies-Oviedo, T.; Buendía Ortuño, MDM. (2017). Electrochemical Characterization of Coinage Techniques the 17(th) Century: The maravedis Case. Electroanalysis. 29(9):2008-2018. doi:10.1002/elan.201700326, which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1002/elan.201700326. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."[EN] The voltammetry of immobilized particles (VIMP) methodology was applied to the discrimination of Spanish maravedis produced in 10 different mints between 1661 and 1664 using characteristic signatures for the reduction of cuprite and tenorite in the patina of the coins and catalytic effects on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The variation of the apparent tenorite/cuprite ratio with depth was fitted to potential laws differing from one mint to another for A Coruna, Burgos, Cordoba, Cuenca, Granada, Madrid, Trujillo, Segovia, Sevilla and Valladolid coins. Electrochemical data permitted to detect the changes in the composition (with lowering of the silver content) and manufacturing technique (from hammer to mill) occurring in this historical period.Financial support from the MICIN Projects CTQ2014-53736-C3-1-P and CTQ2014-53736-C3-2-P, which are also supported with ERDF funds, is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks to the Museum of Prehistory of Valencia for facilitating the access to its collections.Domenech Carbo, A.; Domenech Carbo, MT.; Álvarez-Romero, C.; Montoya, N.; Pasies-Oviedo, T.; Buendía Ortuño, MDM. (2017). Electrochemical Characterization of Coinage Techniques the 17(th) Century: The maravedis Case. Electroanalysis. 29(9):2008-2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.201700326S2008201829

Electrochemical discrimination of mints: The last Chinese emperors Kuang Hsu and Hsuan T'ung monetary unification

[EN] An electrochemical methodology for discriminating monetary emissions, a recurrent problem in much archaeological studies, is introduced. The method is based on the record of voltammetric signatures of cuprite and tenorite corrosion products in the patina using a minimally invasive nanosampling following the voltammetry of immobilized particles methodology. A model for the depth variation of voltammetric electrochemical parameters characterizing the composition of the corrosion patinas is presented. This model permits to rationalize electrochemical data and discriminate different monetary emissions. The application of this technique, corroborated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and focusing ion beam-field emission scanning electron microscopy (FIB-FESEM-EDX), to a series of 10 cash copper coins produced around the Kuang Hsu and Hsuan Tung last Chinese emperors permits to discern different provincial mints and reveals that the monetary unification developed in this period was not uniform.Financial support from the Spanish MINECO Projects CTQ2014-53736-C3-1-P and CTQ2014-53736-C3-2-P which are also supported with ERDF funds. The Universita degli Studi di roma "La Sapienza" has granted a six-months research-scholarship (d.r.n. 965/2016 prot.n.0022041 del 31/03/2016) to the graduated Elena Montagna. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Jose Luis Moya Lopez and Mr. Manuel Planes Insausti (Microscopy Service of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia) for technical supportDomenech-Carbo, A.; Domenech Carbo, MT.; Montagna, E.; Álvarez-Romero, C.; Lee, Y. (2017). Electrochemical discrimination of mints: The last Chinese emperors Kuang Hsu and Hsuan T'ung monetary unification. Talanta. 169:50-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2017.03.025S505616