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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;quick dog, post: 91390, member: 4093&quot;]<b>Like a rock!</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Minerals and rocks have a lot more physical and chemical variation than coins.&nbsp; Geologists, and their specialized scientific cousins, mineralogists, have elaborate, standardized, systems to identify and describe minerals and rocks.&nbsp; Almost any physical object exhibits these features.&nbsp; Standardize them.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Size and Dimension</b> - obvious coin features that are measured today.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Weight</b>- obvious again</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Color</b> - color charts could be prepared, with dozens of subtle variations for color standardization.&nbsp; Coloration may indicate where the coin spent most of its existence.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Structure </b> - bends, dents, strike features, etc.&nbsp; Measure and note.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Texture</b>- fine-grained textures, pock marks, dings, polish marks, etc.&nbsp; This is a big one for coin people.&nbsp; You probably should measure and standardize coin-relief features; coin edges, bass reliefs, letters, etc.&nbsp; At least discuss these features in empirical terms.&nbsp; Quantify.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Chemical Composition</b> - This could, and probably is, being used to identify fake coins and report metallurgical contents of modern coins.&nbsp; Metal alloys, especially ancient alloys, are a combination of several metals.&nbsp; The afghans talk about their seven-metal jewelry.&nbsp; The alloys have several metals becasue the ancient metallurgists had great difficulty removing unwanted elements like zinc.&nbsp; I suspect that old coins probably have chemical &quot;signatures&quot;, even by coin batchs and dates.&nbsp; I would not be surprised if some modern coins have elemental &quot;tracers&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Weathering and Alteration</b> - Most circulated coins have tinges of silver, and or, basemetal alteration products.&nbsp; The different colors and texutures indicate the presence of different metal oxides, chlorides, carbonates, and other metallic salts.</p><p><br /></p><p>Forensic science, including forensic geology, rely upon very subtle variations in features to make very critical and repeatable observations possible.&nbsp; I sure that you coin people can think of other features worth standardizing.&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie104" alt=":yawn:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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