Model for ancient Greek and Roman coinage production

Coinage production of ancient powers such as Athens and Rome is usually inferred from die statistics monetary issues. The present work applies a Kaplan-Meier analysis resistance to failure 29 sets well-documented rate function assumes U-shaped form known in reliability engineering literature the ‘bathtub curve’. With geometric distribution being demonstrably violated for large fraction data sets, each set was instead fitted by mixture two Weibull distributions corresponding regimes. Dies can be divided into bad dies, failing early various reasons, good late fatigue. dual populations reflect efforts smiths at time produce bronze dies that would meet conflicting needs: reduction premature (= infant mortality) limitation ductile deformation during minting. variable proportions suggest not all workshops had fully mastered technology. Because dichotomy induced contrasting mechanical properties, corrections missing based on singletons causes must carefully assessed set.