The chemical composition analysis of the metal of the coins and rings from Frontovoye 3 using the methods of neutron structural diagnostics

The paper describes results of the analysis of two silver rings dating to the end of the 1st - first half of the 2nd centuries AD and three bronze coins from the first third of the 3rd century AD found during excavations of Frontovoye 3. The site is a cemetery of the Roman period in Southwestern Crimea. The analysis of corroded silver fingerrings was performed using methods of neutron tomography and diffraction. Methods of neutron structural diagnostics offered an opportunity to determine the process of corrosion cracking caused by the forging technique used in the Roman time. The analyzed phase composition of the metal the Roman folles were made from demonstrated that three-component bronze without silver addition was used in their production, which means that their formula is different from that applied to mint such coins in western provinces of the Roman Empire. The neutron tomography method did not find any traces of silver plating on the surface of the folles dating to the first third of the 4th century AD discovered at Frontovoye 3.