Hyderabad: Rare coins dating back to the pre-Satavahana period (second century AD) found during excavations in Karimnagar district have gone on display.
The exhibition at the State Museum began on Friday. The coins had been kept locked up in the treasury ever since they were found and this is the first time they have been shown to the public.
The display includes 70 coins made of silver, copper and lead. They are part of the cache of 987 coins that were found during excavations back in 1978, at Kotalingala.
Kotalingala is said to be capital of the first known Telugu kings and the coins were found by a villager who then handed them over to the Department of Archaeology and Museums, at Hyderabad, in 1978. Tourism Secretary B. Venkatesam said the coins brought to light the long-cherished history of Telugus.
“Telangana is a new state but it has some of the oldest habitations. These coins date back to the pre-Satavahana and Satavahana dynasty and we are proud to showcase them,” he said.
N.R. Visalatchy, Director of the department of archaeology, said the exhibition will provide people with an opportunity to peep into ancient Indian history.
The government is also planning to acquire 47 acres of land in Kotalingala where the excavations were carried out. “We will put up all the coin collections from various dynasties in the numismatic gallery which is coming up in the museum,” she added.
