The Compositional Study of Qajar Silver Coins Using PIXE Technique; Case Study of Coins of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar of Tabriz Mint

Subject Areas : Archaeology

Zohreh Jozi ¹ , Hossein Kuhestani Andarzi ² , Mohammad Amin Saadatmehr ³

1 - Department of Archeology,Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
2 - Department of Archaeoogy, Faculty of Art, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
3 - Department of Archeology, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

Received: 2023-02-09 Accepted : 2023-03-13 Published : 2023-03-11

Keywords: Qajar, Naser al-Din Shah, Silver Coin, PIXE Analysis,

Abstract :

The study of the elemental composition of silver coins minted in the Tabriz during the Qajar period can help to investigate the socio-economic situation of that period. In this case study, Proton- Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analytical technique has been applied to twenty-eight Qajar silver coins selected from a private collection. the purpose was to study and investigate the changes in silver elements in Qirans of Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar in Tabriz mint. The metallic elements Ag, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Au were observed. The results show that the content of Ag the main constituent of the coins varies from 90.07 to 82.88%. this significant variation in the content of the major constituent reveals the economic difficulties encountered by the dynasty. The results, which are shown by using the PIXE technique, brought to light valuable information about the economy of the period under study.