Fraunhofer develops digital identification system for historical coins
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a new system for identifying historical and archaeological coins. In collaboration with the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, the technology creates unique digital "fingerprints" for coins.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, in collaboration with the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, has developed a novel system for the digital identification of historical coins. This technology creates unique digital "fingerprints" for each coin, enabling precise classification and authentication.
The research addresses the challenge of documenting vast collections of historical coins, which often differ only in subtle details and cannot be marked with traditional methods like barcodes. The system digitizes and describes coins by capturing their visual features, including wear patterns and surface irregularities, providing an exact digital record.
The developed scanner, named O.S.C.A.R. (Optical System for Coin Analysis and Recognition), utilizes multiple cameras and light sources to capture high-resolution images of both sides of a coin. It has demonstrated a recognition rate of over 98 percent and can detect minute changes or damage, crucial for verifying authenticity and identifying forgeries.
This technological advancement supports broader digitization efforts for cultural heritage in German states. The ability to rapidly and accurately create digital representations of coins enhances the preservation and study of numismatic collections, offering a solution to long-standing documentation challenges.