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T.N. Smekalova (Simferopol), A.Ju. Loboda (Moscow), N.V. Bykovskaya (Kerch), E.D. Trubnikova (Sinferopol) – XRF-Spectroscopy of Bosporan Coin Alloys During Mithradates VI’s Time

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Abstract

New data have been obtained for the study of the “Pontic” period in the history of the Bosporus by measuring with help of X-ray fl uorescent spectroscopy the composition of the alloy of coins from the largest hoard of the 1st c. BC found in 1985 on Kerch peninsula, on the shore of the Sea of Azov (kept in the Eastern Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum- Preserve). It is shown that during the wars of Mithridates VI Eupator against Rome (89–65 BC), anonymous obols struck from “pure” copper and brass of Pontic origin and tetrahalkoy of Amisos and Sinope were circulating on the Bosporus.

Keywords

Pontic Kingdom, Bosporus, Rome, coinage, Mithradates VI, bronze, copper, brass, XRF-spectroscopy.

Tatyana N. Smekalova, V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russia; National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Anastasia Ju. Loboda, National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Natalya V. Bykovskaya, Eastern-Crimean Historic-Cultural Museum-Reserve, Kerch, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;

Elena D. Trubnikova, V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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