Any thoughts?: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jul/09/x-rays-reveal-secrets-roman-coins?INTCMP=SRCH guy
That's beautiful. My previous job was in an imaging lab that had a couple of micro-CT machines; I regret that I never got to try imaging coins with them. I've wondered whether you could do a "virtual restoration" of a coin with a worn-off date by carefully analyzing the characteristics of the remaining metal in the date area -- I don't think our lab had the equipment to do that, but others might.
I think he had it right first time. I was once on the jury of a Treasure Trove Inquest assessing a horde of mainly 4th century coppers. We decided there was enough silver therein to classify them as treasure.
This technique may allow better assessment of the coins of a hoard found in a jar, for example, without disturbing the original order of placement of the coins in the jar. This could show whether the coins were carefully placed at various intervals for votive offerings. The time span of the hoard could be better dated by assessing the levels of placement of attributed coins. Or it might show these coins were haphazardly deposited at a time of an emergency for safe keeping. With time, I’m sure both the technology and the imaging will only get better. guy
I have an old Roman coin that I have to photograph and post for sale on ebay or amazon as a raw coin. It's the emperor Vespasian who put the urinals in the streets of Rome. Senatus popolusque Romanus.
