Fight among finders lands ancient coins in government chest

An earthen pot containing 262 ancient coins was reportedly found by a group of labourers during a construction work at a house in Thayirpallam village near Bhavanisagar on Tuesday

An earthen pot containing 262 ancient coins was reportedly found by a group of labourers during a construction work at a house in Thayirpallam village near Bhavanisagar on Tuesday

Sources said that Rajeshkumar (35), of Thayirpallam village near Bhavanisagar, dug up the earth using an earthmover to construct a compound around his house on Sunday.

A group of workers, Parameswarai (35) Pappathi (60), Ponmani (32), Bannari (54) and Chithra (28) and Ponnammal of the same village were involved in the process of segregating stones from the dug up soil. Amid the soil, they found a broken pot with several ancient coins in it. Without informing the officials, the workers took the coins homes.

However, a quarrel between them over sharing the find erupted. After the spat between the workers, the issue reached the doors of the VAO, who informed officials about the treasure find.

Subsequently, Sathy Tahsildar T Muthuramalingam, Ikkarai Thathapalli VAO Karuppasamy and revenue inspector Thangaraj visited the Thayirpallam village on Tuesday and held an inquiry during which it was confirmed that the workers had shared the coins among themselves.

In a follow-up action, officials seized all the 262 coins from Parameswari, Pappathi, Ponmani, Bannari, Chithra, and Ponnammal. The coins have been embossed with some pictures and namam which is used by Vaishnavites.

The coins might be of Nayakkar kings era. “Whether the coins were made of gold or copper will be known only after investigation,” the tahsildar said.

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