A CASE STUDY OF A SET OF COIN SILVER SPOONS FROM MOHAMED ALI MUSEUM, CAIRO, EGYPT

In this research, a set of four coin silver spoons that belong to prince Mohamed Ali and were struck in Egypt in the name of Sultan Abdul Hamid II (1293-1327 AH / 1876-1909 AD) is investigated. The set was exhibited at Prince Mohamed Ali Museum, in Cairo, Egypt. As it has never been studied before, the study aims to identify the manufacturing technique and the deterioration aspects. Visible imaging and geometrical documentation were undertaken to reveal the preservation condition of the objects. A USB Digital microscope was used to examine the coin spoons. Portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used for the elemental analysis of the alloy, while Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) was used in order to identify the corrosion products. Metallographic Microscope was used to identify the alloy microstructure to explore the manufacturing technology. Portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) showed that the coin spoons are made of coin silver, which is an alloy of silver and copper. While the results of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) confirmed the portable x-ray fluorescence analysis that the coin spoons were made of a silver-copper alloy, SEM-EDX analysis also showed the presence of elemental corrosion layers like C, S, and Cl. An investigation with metallography of the crescent-like shape at the end of the hand part of the coin spoon found that the hand area was cast then twisted, It was also revealed that the coin part had been cast first, and then struck afterwards, as seen by the cold-worked dendrites that were deformed.