Kilimanoor: In an unusual incident, when the land belonging to Rathnakarn Pillai was digged near the Keezhperoor Thirupalkadal Temple for agricultural purposes, a pot containing ancient coins were recovered. The coins have been handed over to the Archaeological Department.
The Archaeological Department Artist Superintendent R Rajeshkumar said these old coins were in circulation during earlier times. The pot with ancient coins were found in the land belonging to B Rathnakaran Pillai, former member of Nagaroor panchayat. Rathnakaran immediately informed the matter to the KIlimanoor police and the Archaeological Department.
As many as 2600 coins weighing 20.4 kg were present in the pot. These coins were in circulation during 1885 during the era of Travancore King Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, Regent Queen Sethulakshmi Bayi and Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. The coins were identified in the values of 4 cash, 8 cash, 1 chakram, etc.
More information about the coins regarding its age and period would be known once the rust is cleaned, said Archaeological Department Research Assistant Athira Pillai. The owner of the land from where the ancient coins were found had won Rs 6 crore in the Christmas-New Year Bumper lottery of the Kerala Government in 2018. The authorities informed that the value of the coins recovered would be calculated and an amount equivalent would be given to Rathnakaran Pillai by the department.
The age-old temple of Keezhperoor Thirupalkadal was visited by officials of the Archaeological Department. The officials of the Archaeological Department had earlier filed a request for a detailed study about the temple. Local people said that people having connections with the temple were living in the area from where the pot of coins was discovered. One of the buildings in this area houses the 84 ward of the Nagaroor panchayat office.
