Big treasure trove recovered

In one of the biggest treasure troves recovered in India, the Madhya Pradesh government today displayed ducats and gold Mohurs (coins) of Mughal era. These coins were first recovered by one Savita of Shikarpura locality in Burhanpur in 2003 in her home. Later she handed the coins over to her daughter in Junagarh (Gujarat). After a long gap of carelessness and apathy, the state government received them from the Gujarat government last month.

All the 482 gold coins and ducats have been valued at Rs 80 lakh-1 crore by a private analyst roped in by the state government. But they are of higher value in terms of study and research.

Strangely, state Culture Minister Laxmikant Sharma and officials of the state archaeological department refused to talk about Savita or her daughter. Neither any action has been taken by the state government against her nor did the government officials disclose identity of the woman.

Of the 482 gold coins, 7 are of Portuguese era of one ducat (the Neterhlands; issued in 1650) and three other coins are of pattern 2 ducat, which are very rare, and were issued in 1590. Rest of the coins have also been deciphered. Of them, 4 coins are of Jehangir era (1605-1627), 33 of Shahjahan (1628-1658) era and 430 of Aurangzeb (1658-1707) era.

"We have obtained them from Gujrat government last month. These coins were recovered by one Savita of Burhanpur in her house in 2003, we will display these coins in state archaeological museum," Laxmikant Sharma said. His government interestingly roped in a few private numismatic experts of Indore, who refused to divulge on the details of the coins and ducats. A senior official in state archaeological department Manoj Govil said, "only Gujarat government can registered a case in this regard, as coins have been recovered in Gujarat." he however refused to say anything on future course of action.

Of these coins, 195 were hammered at Surat mint, 41 at Aurangabad, 28 from Sholapur, 2 from Allahabad, 5 from Akbarabad, 1 from Kabul, 1 from Ahmad Nagar and 2 from Jafrabad mint. "One coin had also be cast into a small bar," a source said.