In addition to gold pieces, jewelry, and antique artifacts, Goa’s treasury vault, which was opened for the first time in more over 30 years, holds almost 6,000 antique coins. A committee that included the director of accounts and the state’s finance secretary unlocked the vault.
The vault was originally opened by the government following the state’s freedom in 1961, and access was last granted in 1992.
As per the findings of a report prepared by the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology, the vault held over 6,000 coins, the majority of which were copper and belonged to various historical periods. These included 307 Portuguese-origin copper coins that weighed 3.15 kg, 1,746 Arabic coins that weighed 20 kg, and 1695 British Imperial coins that weighed 22 kg and featured the likenesses of King William and Queen Victoria.
In addition, it had 1,026 copper coins valued at 16 Reals (Portuguese money used between 1430 and 1911) totaling 38 kg, 320 antique coins weighing 3.477 kg, 787 unidentifiable copper coins weighing 15 kg, and bits of gold weighing roughly 2.234 kg.
According to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the treasure’s exact value has not yet been determined by the state.
“At present, I can’t say the value of these items. We have also informed the central archaeology department of the find,” the chief minister said, adding that sample coins drawn from the treasury would be displayed at the Goa State Archaeology Museum.
The vault was opened by a committee comprising the state’s finance secretary and director of accounts, among others, in view of the government shifting the offices of the accounts directorate that was operating from an old Portuguese-era building “Fazenda” to a newly constructed building.
Read More
Legends Cricket Trophy: Dubai Giants Register Biggest Win
