Ancient silver and copper coins found in Gopanahalli village, Karnataka

Children found 26 coins in a small vessel with a brass lid at an abandoned house site in Gopanahalli village, Challakere taluk, Chitradurga district, on October 26. The collection comprises six silver coins and 20 copper coins.

Coins from different periods

Four silver coins date to the East India Company era around 1840. The other two are from British India after 1857. Their denominations are three one-rupee coins, two half-rupee coins and one two-anna coin.

Of the copper coins, 19 are attributed to Tipu Sultan’s rule and one to the Mysore Wodeyar period. Officials transferred the coins to the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage. They are being kept at the government museum in Chitradurga, where the department plans to display them to visitors.

Important Facts for Exams

• Company minting authority: The East India Company received authority to mint money under acts granted by Charles II around 1670, alongside powers over troops and fortresses.
• Tipu’s monetary reforms: Tipu Sultan introduced a new coinage system during his rule, alongside a new calendar and land-revenue system.
• Metal content and clipping: Early metal coins carried value in their precious-metal content, but could be clipped to remove some of that metal.