Belagavi: Labourers Stumble Upon 14 Ancient Gold Coins During VB-G Ram G Work

Belagavi: A routine day of work under VB-G Ram G scheme in Inchal village of Saundatti taluk took an unexpected turn when labourers stumbled upon 14 ancient gold coins weighing a total of about 54.8 grams.

A preliminary assessment has suggested that they could be nearly 1,000 years old, but their exact age, value and historical significance can be established only after an examination by archaeology experts.

For Yallappa, one of the labourers who found the coins, the discovery came as a surprise.

“While we were working, we found the coins in a pot on August 29. Not knowing what to do and whom to contact, I took them home. As the coins were government property I handed them over to the gram panchayat PDO,” he said.

The coins were subsequently handed over to the taluk administration by Inchal Gram Panchayat PDO Mallappa.

According to officials, each coin weighs around 3.90-3.87 grams. All 14 coins have a similar design and bear an elephant motif.

The elephant motif has been seen on coins associated with several dynasties that ruled parts of Karnataka, including the Ganga dynasty. However, officials said it would be too early to establish their origin or dynasty without a detailed examination by the Archaeology Department.

“The coins were initially weighed and valued with the help of a local goldsmith, who estimated their combined worth at around Rs 8.30 lakh,” PDO Mallappa said.

Officials, however, said the valuation was only a preliminary estimate and that the historical importance of the discovery would be known only after the coins were examined by experts.

The coins were handed over to the tahsildar after a panchnama was conducted and they were formally taken into government custody.

The discovery has also sparked curiosity among villagers, who are keen to know which dynasty the coins belonged to and whether the Archaeology Department will undertake a detailed study or explore the site where they were found.