Gold coins in a copper vessel unearthed in a Hindu temple of Tamil Nadu

source: google images

A trove of 505 gold coins was found in the premise of Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Temple at Tiruvanaikaval in Trichy on Wednesday morning. After examining those coins authorities revealed that they are gold coins and they could be from 1000-1200 CE.

It was 10a.m. when workers were clearing some space behind the Prasanna Pulaiyar Sannidhi by the orders of temple authorities. The plan was to move some banana plants from that area to develop a well-planned garden for making the temple more attractive.

After working in that area for two hours and digging around six-feet near Udhiyam tree, the appearance of a metal object brought a sudden halt. All the workers and temple authorities were astounded after seeing the copper vessel full of gold coins. When they got into counting, they found one big gold coin was set with 504 small gold coins in the 'hundiyal'.

According to temple authorities, 505 coins were kept aside till the Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&
CE), other district authorities and jewelry experts could make to the temple.

"The large gold coin was engraved with the letters resemble the Arabic language and smaller ones were embossed with Hindu Gods on them." said a spot witness of the site.
Further, he said, "The vessel was taken to the Government Treasury from the spot it was found. They will try to find out the age of the coins."

Government authorities weighed all the coins and said that the large coin is around 10.960grams and small coins weigh 1705.050 grams altogether. Depending on these figures, the total worth of the gold could be around 70,04752 INR, if coins are 22 karats and 82,81,464 INR if they are 24 Karats, based on prices as of February 27.

The Srirangam Inspector and two other witnesses were then summoned to the spot and at 8.45 pm on Wednesday the gold was sent to the district treasury.