From an archaeological perspective, coins are often important as a terminus post or ante quem. In a sealed context, a securely dated coin can mean a securely dated stratigraphic layer, and a more certain relative date for those things around it. However, as this paper will demonstrate, coins as archaeological artefacts can offer much more information when investigated in terms of structure and composition.As crystalline solids, the structure of metals from microscale to nanoscale level can be used to determine information regarding technology of a coin. In order to glean the most useful information from a coin it is necessary to augment metallographic studies with other information such as compositional data and provenance. The microstructure of a coin is of particular interest in terms of how the coin was manufactured, which is reflected in morphological features of the coin surface.50 representative coins were provided by the Western Australian Maritime Museum for analysis at the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Microscopy Characterisation and Analysis. Secondary electron imaging and backscatter electron imaging in combination with X-ray (EDS) microanalysis has been performed on the FEI Verios scanning electron microscope. The microstructure and composition of investigated coins has been found to be indicative of the manufacturing history of the metal. The applicability of advanced electron microscopy techniques in coin analysis will be also discussed.