POSSIBLE SOURCES FOR EXTRACTION OF SILVER BY COMPARISON OF PARTHIAN AND SASANIAN COINS IN MEDE SATRAPS

Authors

  • B. Sodaei Department of archaeology, Islamic Azad University,Varamin, Pishva Branch; I.R.Iran
  • M. Hajivaliei Department of Physics, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, I.R.Iran
  • F. Khademi Nadooshan Department of archaeology, TarbiatModares University, Tehran, I.R.Iran

Keywords:

Parthian, Sasanian, Medes, coins, silver, PIXE, XRF

Abstract

Chemical composition made by PIXE and XRF of silver coins which have been minted in the Ecbatana mint houses in the Parthian period (247 BC- 224 AD) implies silver sources, which has been extracted for issuing coins. Also, it gives information about the economic and political conditions of the era under study. Fifteen Perthian and twenty two Sasanian (459 - 651 A.D.) silver coins were analyzed. The silver metal, which has been used in this Satrap, has been explored when commercial activity and population gone high, more silver has been extracted and access to the new sources was necessary by the Parthian. Here, we analytically show the number of mines for extraction of silver in this satrap and possible number of silver ore sources.

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Published

2023-07-27

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Articles