Pages: 179-188

For the first time, the non-destructive method of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the composition of the alloy of the unique numismatic collection from Kerkinitis from the Yevpatoriya Museum of Local Lore, including the earliest, cast, coins. The most noteworthy result was the identification of antimony (Sb) in the bronze alloy of coins-arrows. Based on the fact that this rare alloy was used for the Scythian military arrowheads of the “basic” type found on Berezan, Olbia, in the regions of Seversky Donets, Middle Dnieper region, in the vicinity of Istria, Gorgippia and Kerkinitis, it can be associated with the activities of “migrating” Scythian masters. The same masters probably cast coins in the form of arrowheads in ancient cities of the North-Western Black Sea Region, including Kerkinitis, using similar bronze with antimony as for the real arrowheads.

Keywords: Kerkinitis, cast and minted coins, bronze, antimony, Scythian arrowheads

Information about authors:

Vadim Kutaisov. Doctor of Historical Sciences.
Tatiana Smekalova (Simferopol, Crimea). Doctor of Historical Sciences. V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University. Academician Vernadsky Ave., 4, Simferopol, 295007, Crimea; National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”. Academician Kurchatov Sq., 1, Moscow, 123098, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]