British-era silver coins unearthed in MP
Old silver coins believed to date back to the British era have been discovered during excavation work for a Greenfield Highway near Dongarpur Lodha village in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district.
Official sources said some villagers found the coins while excavation work was underway around 5 pm on Monday. A JCB operator involved in the excavation is also reported to have found coins at the site. The matter came to the administration’s notice on Tuesday after a video showing the coins surfaced.
The administration has begun an inquiry into the discovery and directed the police to collect and secure the coins. Officials are also trying to determine the exact number of coins recovered and the precise location from which they were unearthed.
The coins recovered so far bear the inscription ‘GEORGE V KING EMPEROR’ along with the year 1913. The reverse side carries the words “ONE RUPEE INDIA”. Based on the inscriptions, officials have indicated that the coins appear to belong to the British period. Their exact historical significance and other details will be established after examination by the concerned department.
District archaeology officer Ashok Sharma said one of the recovered coins weighs around 11.6 grams and is understood to contain about 91% silver. He said the coin carries the year 1913 and the inscription “One Rupee India”. Officials are gathering information about how many coins were found by villagers and the JCB operator.
Additional District Magistrate Ashwani Rawat said the administration had received information about the discovery of old silver coins during excavation for the Greenfield Highway. Police have been instructed to investigate the matter and collect the coins. Once the initial investigation is complete, the recovered coins will be handed over to the Archaeology Department.
The discovery has drawn attention because the coins resemble the one-rupee silver coins issued during the reign of King George V between 1911 and 1936. Such coins typically weighed around 11.66 grams and contained approximately 91.7 per cent silver. Their value to collectors can vary significantly depending on factors such as condition, rarity, mint mark and authenticity.
