A Thermomechanical Study of Judean Prutot Minting Methods

Abstract

Forty-five bronze Judean prutah coins from rulers spanning the first centuries BCE and CE
were analyzed using metallography, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF).
These analyses help elucidate how coins were minted in ancient Judea before, during and after
the Roman occupation. The results indicate connected flans were usually struck as they were
cooling from being cast. They also suggest reheating of flans became more common during
and after the Roman occupation.