X-Ray micro-fluorescence and chemometrics applied to Roman coins certification

The aim of this work is to investigate the possibility offered by a combined use of X-Ray micro-fluorescence (XRF) [1-2] and chemometric approach to analyze metal objects of historical and artistic interest, in order to perform an objective evaluation of their composition and elemental distribution finalized to identify fakes. The results of this evaluation are in fact related not only to the metal characteristics [3] but also to the manufacturing approach [4]. A methodological strategy, combining XRF semi-quantitative analysis and a multivariate approach, was thus specifically developed and applied with reference to two ancient coins of the same type, a Caesar – Crawford cataloging 452/2, one certified as original and the other of unknown origin (Figure 1). The achieved results (Figure 2) allowed to objectively sustain the classical numismatic evaluation, contributing to assess as the unknown coin was a fake.