2007-2008, the paleometallurgy research centre, Melle, Poitou-Charentes region in the west of France. The first experiments into the techniques used in minting ancient coins concentrated on “owls”, silver pieces that were struck in Athens during the classical period.
Summer 2009. A new campaign begins and the numismatists are looking at bronze coinage, particularly the twin eagle piece struck in Alexandria in the 2nd century BC. After initial studies in Egypt, Thomas Faucher and his team return to Melle and the experiments can begin… The basic approach is known but the production chain for working in bronze is different and brings its own new set of puzzles. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging; the coins created by the team are very close to the archaeological finds. Even though numerous questions are still to be answered, the team is gradually mastering the production techniques of the ancient mints.

• a film by Raymond COLLET • production : CNRS (USR 3134) - Centre d’Etudes Alexandrines 18 minutes © 2011 - CNRS / CEAlex • distribution : Editions Harpocrate - 15, rue Mansard, 72000 Le Mans, France • camera : Bertrand et Thomas FAUCHER, Raymond COLLET, André PELLE • editing : Raymond COLLET • photographies : Thomas FAUCHER, Louis BROUSSEAU • translation and narration : Colin CLEMENT • thanks to : Michel AMANDRY - Adrien ARLES - Jean-Paul BAILLEUIL - Louis BROUSSEAU - Michel DUCOURET - Frédérique DUYRAT - Marie-Pierre GUIRADO - Romain JANVIER - Jean-Philippe MARNAIS - Julien OLIVIER - Charles PARISOT - Olivier PICARD Institut Universitaire de France - Institut de Recherche sur les ArchéoMATériaux (UMR 5060) - Service Régional de l’Archéologie Poitou-Charentes - Conseil Général des Deux-Sèvres - Ville de Melle - Mines d’argent des rois francs - Bibliothèque Nationale de France

CEAlex 18’ MA14EN

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