A Material Study of Persian-Period Silver Coins and Hacksilber from Samaria

An assembly of fourth-century BCE Samarian silver coins and late-fifth-century BCE Samarian cut silver sheets, Sidonian and Philistian coins from a hacksilber hoard allegedly found in the region of Samaria belonging to the David and Jemima Jeselsohn collection, were characterized by metallurgical analyses. The aims of the research were to identify the items' composition and manufacturing processes. We affirmed that the Samarian coins were made of silver-copper alloy produced by a controlled process. The microstructural and elemental analyses revealed that the sheets were produced from various materials, including pure silver, silver-copper, and silver-copper-gold alloys, whereas the Sidonian and Philistian coins were made of silver-copper alloy. Continuity in style and production techniques was observed. This information provides a better understanding of the material culture and technological skills in the Persian-period province of Samaria.