C2863 Identification, analysis and conservation of numismatic material

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Lukáš Richtera, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Karel Novotný, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Karel Novotný, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: Department of Chemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of general and inorganic chemistry (especially metals - manufacturing of raw material, manufacturing and processing of metals, alloys, oxidation and corrosion processes) and principles of analytical methods used for inorganic materials analysis (metal, alloys, corrosion products).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At least rough identification of a particular type of minting with regard to provenance and period of its manufacturing is a key to primary understanding of composition of mintage material and should be considered as an essential ability of each conservator. Understanding these issues can help to choose the best combination of analytical techniques, to recognize the potential risks and degree of damage by corrosion and to identify counterfeit coins. All of the steps should precede the draw up of a conservation and cleaning proposal of a mintage material.
Learning outcomes
Students will be acquainted with the options and methods of identification of numismatic material ranging from simple visual observation to advanced instrumental techniques to propose the most convenient method of subsequent conservation.
Syllabus
  • Development of antiquity and middle Europe mintage. Basic types of mintage material, technologies of mintage and material composition. Practical course in mintage type identification. Mintage metals and alloys, specifics in with respect to defects and corrosion. Manufacturing defects influencing composition, quality and corrosion resistence of material. Desctructive and non-destructive analytical techniques for mintage material analysis and their benefits. Methodology of key aspects assessment to choose the most beneficial analytical technique. Practical course - analysis and correct data interpretation. Assessment of a correct ways of cleaning and conservation of mintage material with respect to analyses results. Problems with counterfeit coins - specifics in cleaning and conservation. Basic methods of mintage material conservation.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • PETRÁŇ, Zdeněk and Pavel RADOMĚRSKÝ. Ilustrovaná encyklopedie české, moravské a slezské numismatiky. 1. vyd. Praha: Libri, 2001, 310 s. ISBN 8072770675. info
  • NOHEJLOVÁ-PRÁTOVÁ, Emanuela. Základy numismatiky. 1. vyd. Praha: Academia, 1975, 263 s. URL info
Teaching methods
Theoretical and practical course - numismatics fundamentals, mintage material analysis (including practical section), methods of cleaning and conservation
Assessment methods
Credit - theoretical and practical exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2023/C2863