For the Technology of Copper Coins of Giorgi the III

(The Results of Spectral Analysis)

Abstract

The article presents research related to the copper coins of the period of Giorgi the III and other kings of United Georgia, held in private collections. The study aimed to document the coins, decipher and analyze their inscriptions, and most importantly, determine their chemical composition through spectral laboratory analysis. The study was conducted on 16 coins from private collections. In order to determine the chemical composition of XII century Georgian copper coins, during spectral analysis, our attention was directed towards the existence of silver compound, found in unevenly produced coins of Giorgi the III. From the 16 coins, in the 12 of them a silver was evidenced; In one of them with a percentage of 10.71, in the second – 5.09%, in the following 10 of them – silver was relatively insignificant, and spectral analysis did not show the level of silver in 4 of them. Along with these coins, we examined 140 coins of the same era. Analysis did not show the existence of silver in any of them. The research of this era copper coins in private collections, gave us the following picture: in produced coins of the period of Demetre I silver plated copper money is also evidenced. The then-period producers of fakery were significantly mastered, and the practice of silver plating the copper coins was widespread in Georgia. The pictures of coins presented by us shows the versatility of mintage and, therefore, the rich practice of barter. These examples clearly state that, fake money producers, issuers were hugely harming the country.