505 gold coins, weighing 1,716 kg, were found in a container yesterday during excavation at Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval, Tiruchirappalli district. The coins were later handed over to the police. The pot was found by workers carrying out renovation work near the Akhilandeswari shrine in the temple complex. The temple is believed to have been built in the early Chola period, almost 1,800 years ago.
During the 1700s, the East India Company minted gold coins called Pagodas. They came in two versions, the Oru Swamy Pagoda (“One God Coin”) and the Moonu Swamy Pagoda (“Three Gods Coin”). This referred to whether Lord Vishnu was represented alone or accompanied by his two consorts, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi (Lakshmi).
According to the officials, the coins were in a sealed container that was seen by workers near the Akhilandeshwari Shrine. When the temple officials opened it they found 505 gold coins. The coins have yet to be examined by archaeologists to understand their age and history. The pot was reportedly found at a depth of nearly 7 feet.
According to sources, the temple, which is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, was undergoing renovations on a regular basis. The temple administration had decided to clear the vegetation of the Valai Kottam located in front of the Ambal Sannidhi and develop a Nandhavanam (flower garden). The brass pot containing gold coins was removed by curious workmen who opened the lid to find gold coins filled to the brim. Subsequently, the information was passed on to the District Administration.
Srirangam Tahsildar came to the temple to examine the find, which weighed around 1,716 grams. As the coins have historical inscriptions and symbols, the archeology department will conduct tests to determine their age and history. Akilandeswari Samedha Jambukeswarar Temple is believed to have been built 1800 years ago by Chola Chieftain Kotchengannan (Red-eyed Prince). The temple is on Srirangam Island where the famous Ranganathaswamy Temple is located.
It is believed that the temple received many donations over a period of time including silver vahanams, gold ornaments, and real estate. The temple has a majestic complex, complete with courtyards, towers, and ponds. Currently, the gold hoard is kept in the treasury for safekeeping.
A day after a sizeable number of gold coins were found in the Jambukeswarar temple, a numismatist in the city who owns two similar coins said the ones found in the temple were minted by the East India Company at the turn of the century. XVI.
On Wednesday, during cleaning work at the Arulmigu Akilandeswari Samedha Jambukeswarar temple, a closed pot was found on a vacant lot near Thayar Sanathi. It contained 505 ancient gold coins weighing 1,716 kg. There were 504 similar coins that weighed more than 3 g and one large one that weighed more than 10 g.
Following the discovery, all the coins have been kept in the treasury of the district government. A Manoahran, numismatist and former Tiruchy Railway employee, told TNIE that the coins date from 1691 and were minted by the East India Company. He said: “The coin was called Pagoda’ (‘Varagan’ in Tamil). In the period, the East India Company minted two types of coins, namely the Single Deity Pagoda (Oru Swamy Pagoda) and the Triple Deity Pagoda (Moonu Swamy Pagoda). Although there were other coins for its use, the Pagoda coins were specially minted for gifting.”
The single deity pagoda would have Tirupati Balaji on one side and granules (rough surface) on the reverse. The triple deity pagoda would have Tirupati Balaji along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi and pellets on the other side. He added that the coins found in the Jambukeswarar temple must have been hidden by people in the 16th century. He said the only 10 gram coin could be from the Arcot Nawab.
He said that these coins are extremely rare and their value would be five times the current gold price for each coin. He asked the government to preserve the coins by keeping them in a museum keeping in mind their history.
