14 ancient gold coins of Ganga era found in mud pots at work site in Belagavi village

BELAGAVI: Daily wage labourers working under the VB G RAM-G scheme, who were undertaking construction work by the side of road at Inchal village in Savadatti taluk, found a mud pot with pure gold coins believed to be from the Ganga era. When they broke open the pot, a surprise awaited. The labourers then handed over the gold coins to the taluk administration.

The labourers were conducting inspection where the gold coins were found. The Gram Panchayat had taken up construction work of a compound wall around Gomala land next to BCM hostel. Work was being done since last one week using more than 200 VB G RAM-G labourers.

During work on August 29, Yallappa Karigar, Kenchappa Bandagi, Appanna Talawar and Demanna Talawar found small small pots of ancient times. They took them and kept with them. Later, when they checked the pot, gold coins were found in them.

As they were contemplating what to do with gold coins, they remembered that when a treasure was found in Gadag recently, it was handed over to government. So, they also decided to give to government and handed over to the tahsildar through the PDO and Taluk Panchayat EO.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan was also apprised about the find and the district administration will decide what to do further with the coins. Taluk administration has subjected the 14 gold coins, each weighing about 4 grams, to examination and their total value of coins is estimated at Rs 8.27 lakh. There is picture of an elephant on coins a local historian said that the elephant was royal emblem during Ganga period.