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Copper pitcher with gold coins found in Shivamogga


Mangalore Today News Network

Shivamogga, Dec 21, 2015 : As many as 236 gold coins kept in a copper pitcher were found during the renovation of Thimmannanakere tank, adjacent to Marikamba temple in Kavaledurga village of Tirthahalli taluk, on Saturday.


Copper pitcher with gold coins found in Shivamogga


The diameter of 235 of them was 15 mm and that of the other 25 mm. The treasure was discovered when the area near the temple was dug and the mud used to strengthen the tank bund.

Karanji Purushotham, a resident of the village, stumbled upon the copper pitcher in the heap of mud. Residents intimated tahsildar of Tirthahalli, Lokeshappa, who visited the spot, collected the coins and handed them over to the district administration.

The coins have writings in Arabic and Devanagari, and there is a carving of the crescent moon on the reverse. The total weight of the coins was around 700 gm. Kavaledurga fort was constructed by the Keladi kings who ruled Malnad and coastal Karnataka from 15th to 18th century. Kavaledurga, also called as Bhuvanagiridurga, was an important urban centre during the rule of the Keladi kings. The fort later came into the hands of the Wadiyars of Mysuru.

Mr. Lokeshappa said that experts from Archaeological Survey of India and the Department of Archaeology and Museums would be requested to study the coins.

 

Courtesy: The Hindu