The value of two non-destructive techniques of coin analysis is demonstrated. The coins were mostly Persian from the Sasanian (224651 AD) and the Umayyad periods. The first technique involves the irradiation of the coin in a low-intensity beam of neutrons from a radioactive source in a neutron howitzer. This can be used for silver and gold and takes 2.5 minutes per coin. ln the second technique the coin sample is rubbed on etched quartz tubing to give a streak weighing less than 0.0001g, and 100-200 coins can be so tested per day. About 40 streaks can be irradiated per day in a nuclear reactor and this gives Ag, Au, Cu and sometimes As, Sb, and Zn. The second method is the more valuable, but both methods overcome the problem of residual silver.