Analysis of Ayyubid and Mamluk dirhams using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Seven ancient dirhams (silver coins) from the Ayyubid period 564-648 AH (1167-1248 AD) and nine dirhams from the Mamluk period 648-865 AH (1248-1459 AD) of the Great Islamic Empire (GIE) were analyzed using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, The Ayyubid dirhams were found to have compositions ranging from about 8 to 52 wt % Ag, whereas the Mamluk dirhams were found to have compositions ranging from about 12 to 55 wt % Ag, The dirhams were found to contain high concentrations of Cu (about 5-79 wt %), Au (about 600 ppm-15 wt %) and Pb (about 1-9 wt %), In addition to these three elements, the Ayyubid dirhams were found to contain high concentrations of Hg (up to about 30 wt %) whereas its highest concentration in the Mamluk dirhams were about 0.4 wt %, Other elements found in the dirhams with varying concentrations were Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Br, Rb, Sr, Sb and Sm, The silver contents of these dirhams were compared with those of other dirhams from the Umayyad period 83-130 AH (702-748 AD) and the Abbasid period 162-200 AH (779-815 AD) of the same GIE, The correlation between the compositions of various dirhams and the historical implications is discussed, and a possible explanation for the significant variations in the composition of the dirhams is given. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.