Fringe-projection profilometry for recovering 2.5D shape of ancient coins

The form of relief is undoubtedly one of the most topical subjects in the field of cultural heritage. Physical access to historic and artistic products can be limited by a number of factors. For example, access to collections of ancient coins is difficult, especially for students. Indeed, coin digital archives containing high-quality three-dimensional models and that can be accessed remotely are of great interest. The use of projected fringes for the measurement of surface profiles is a well-developed technique. In this paper, we present a surface-profile measurement system for small cultural heritage objects where it is important not only to detect the shape with a high degree of accuracy but also to capture and archive any signs of ageing. The equipment presented in this paper is simple, reliable and cheap. In addition, some examples are presented to demonstrate the potential of the proposed scheme for recovering 2.5D shapes of cultural heritage objects.