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Chemical evidence for the recycling of Roman gold in the Kushan Empire

Abstract:: This chapter compares the results of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) on 159 Roman aurei and 37 Kushan gold coins held at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Existing LA-ICP-MS analyses have shown that Kushan gold coins from the first and second centuries had platinum concentrations far in excess of contemporary Roman issues. As such, it is impossible for Rome to have been the exclusive source of Kushan gold—and this conclusion is further reinforced here. This chapter further investigates the role of recycling Roman gold coinage as a source for Kushan gold under Huvishka and his successors.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Green, G. (2026). Chemical evidence for the recycling of Roman gold in the Kushan Empire. In B. D. R. Hellings, M. Spoerri Butcher, & C. Howgego (Eds.), Roman Coin Hoards Across Frontiers (1st ed., pp. 385–421). Oxford Academic.

MLA Style

Green, G. “Chemical Evidence for the Recycling of Roman Gold in the Kushan Empire.” Roman Coin Hoards Across Frontiers, edited by BDR Hellings et al., 1st ed., Oxford Academic, 2026, pp. 385–421.

Chicago Style

Green, G. 2026. “Chemical Evidence for the Recycling of Roman Gold in the Kushan Empire.” In Roman Coin Hoards Across Frontiers, 1st ed., edited by BDR Hellings, M Spoerri Butcher, and C Howgego. Oxford Academic.
Print

Access Document

Publisher copy:: 10.1093/9780198986478.003.0013

Authors

+ Green, G More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: SSD
Department:: School of Archaeology
Sub department:: EB SCHOOL OF ARCHAEOLOGY; ED ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM
Oxford college:: Exeter College
Role:: Author
ORCID:: 0000-0001-8181-8012

Contributors

+ Hellings, BDR

Role:: Editor

+ Spoerri Butcher, M

Role:: Editor

Role:: Editor

+ Leverhulme Trust More from this funder

Funder identifier:: https://ror.org/012mzw131
Grant:: ECF-2020-211

+ Arts and Humanities Research Council More from this funder

Funder identifier:: https://ror.org/0505m1554

Publisher:: Oxford Academic
Host title:: Roman Coin Hoards Across Frontiers
Pages:: 385-421
Chapter number:: 13
Publication date:: 2026-05-28
Acceptance date:: 2023-07-07
Edition:: 1
DOI:: 10.1093/9780198986478.003.0013
EISBN:: 9780198986478
ISBN:: 9780198986447

Language:: English
Keywords:: Roman

Kushan

gold

coins

recycling

trace element analysis

laser ablation

mass spectrometry

LA-ICP-MS
Subtype:: Chapter
Pubs id:: 2446008
Local pid:: pubs:2446008
Source identifiers:: W7162659870
Deposit date:: 2026-07-20
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_09b77c3a314f472ea6a3373cff37bc8e

Terms of use

Copyright holder:: Oxford University Press
Copyright date:: 2026
Rights statement:: © Oxford University Press 2026.

Licence:: Terms and Conditions of Use for Oxford University Research Archive

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