Dr Steve Bull used the University's new Hysitron Triboindenter, the most accurate machine of its type in the world, to make tiny indentations in the coins less than 60 nanometres deep - about two thousand times less than the thickness of a human hair.
By measuring the force required to make the indentations, he concluded that the Pound and Mark had equal surface hardness, while the Euro's was 10-20 per cent softer.
However, Dr Bull is not predicting that the Euro will wear thin more quickly. The structure of the coin's surface means it will work-harden as it knocks against other coins in people's pockets. The main purpose of the experiment was, in fact, to test the Triboindenter which has just been installed in the University's Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering with money from the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF), which was set up by the UK Government and the Wellcome Trust to upgrade Britain's science infrastructure.
The Triboindeter uses the sharp tip of a diamond to penetrate the surface and analyse its mechanical response. The mass applied to make each indentation is about one-hundredth of a gram, equivalent to the lightest touch of a fingertip.
In future, the Triboindeter will help the University work with industry to develop better coatings for products like computer hard-discs and anti-glare glass.
Dr Bull said: 'We were really using the coins to test the equipment rather than the other way around - but the data we produced were very interesting. Conventional microhardness testing would not have been accurate enough to show the differences between the surfaces of the coins.'