Chemical composition and microchemistry of ''free galloping horse'' bronze Punic coins

A large group of the so called `free galloping horse' bronze Punic coins, that is the most common series largely diffused in the Mediterranean basin, has been found during the archaeological excavation at Tharros (western Sardinia, Italy). Forty-seven coins have been studied in order to determine the chemical composition and the microchemical structure of the copper alloys used by Punics for the coinage of this series and to gain further information about the metal ores used to produce the metals. The results have shown that copper, tin, iron, silver, antimony, lead, zinc and arsenic vary significantly thus indicating different trends in the alloys production. The content of the major and minor elements has also indicated that Punic metallurgists controlled only the content of some elements to within quite narrow limits and when deliberate adding was used just to increase the metal to fill the mould, as might sometimes be the case with the addition of lead instead of the more expensive tin.