'The Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage'

Even one coin is a "sample". More is better, of course, but that may not be possible.
I will give an example. I had a hypothesis that PONT MAX Othos are debased sharply so and the change of the reverse legend is a sign of that. I started looking for reverses that would share the obverse die with a SECVRITAS or PAX issue. Finally I succeeded, obtained the missing coin and Ponting tested them for me, "destroying" the coins with a minute hole on the side. He even offered to have a professional restore them, but I declined as I am proud of having been able to contribute.
There were two PONT MAXes and on SECVRITAS sharing an obverse die and indeed, the PONT MAXes were about 80% silver and the SECVRITAS was 90%. Now, this was a sample collected to test a hypothesis made BEFORE the act. It was shown to hold. I can scientifically soundly now say: prove this wrong with another sample. Unless this can be done, these three coins are enough.
This is not the same thing as randomly observing such a phenomenon.
And the coins are certainly not destroyed.
Jyrki Muona

 

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A few additional notes now that I have read the posts.
Doug, they had 25 Othos, many more Galbas, many dozens of civil war coins, several of most issues of Domitian etc. It is a great sample, read it before you condemn it.
As to figuring out the exact composition of the coins. That is not the point. We need the composition of the coins as made. They are all now changed, mostly more on the surface, sometimes entirely. Calculating the total composition of thousands of coins now existing and looking at averages does not tell that.
Jyrki Muona

 

Remembering that you are digging up a thread from the distant past, all I recall is being quite unimpressed with the way they grouped the Septimius coins. I'm glad you found their work acceptable. How did they handle the various mints under the Flavians?

 

Welcome @jyrki muona

 

By and large they follow RPC and the new RIC.

 

@jyrki muona welcome. I'm pretty sure I have 1 or 2 coins from your collection.

 

Yes welcome @jyrki muona. I also have a few coins from your collection.