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Chennai, Nov 4 (IANS) A surprising discovery of 103 ancient gold coins of a bygone era has been unearthed from an ancient Shiva temple near Javvadu hills in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district, police said on Tuesday.
This rare discovery was made on Monday in the historical Sivan temple of Kovilur village.
Workers engaged in renovating the sanctum sanctorum discovered an earthen pot buried under the floor of the temple. When it was opened, the pot revealed a magnificent collection of gold coins, neatly stacked and remarkably well preserved.
According to the police, the temple is believed to be several centuries old, dating back to the reign of Chola king Rajaraja Cholan III.
The ongoing renovation of the internal structure of the sanctum sanctorum revealed the hidden vessel, which was immediately reported to the local authorities. Officials from the Revenue Department and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department soon reached the spot and took possession of the coins.
They have taken steps to investigate and conserve the treasure, while further verification will be conducted to determine its historical origin and period.
Experts said the temple has typical features of Late Chola architecture, which supports the theory that it was constructed during the rule of Rajaraja Cholan III in the 13th century. Historians believe these coins may date from the late Chola period or early Pandya era – a time when gold currency was widely used in temple endowments and trade networks throughout South India.
Officials clarified that no police case has been registered since the discovery was made during authorized temple renovation work.
The HR&CE department is coordinating with archaeologists and numismatists to study the inscriptions, minting patterns and metal composition of the coins to ascertain their historical significance. The discovery has generated considerable excitement among local residents and heritage enthusiasts, who see it as a powerful reminder of the rich temple heritage of Tamil Nadu and the enduring prosperity of the Chola civilisation.
–IANS
aal/vd