Farmers stumble upon Chola era coins while plouging field in Trichy

Trichy: Copper coins estimated to be at least 1,000 years old from the Chola period were stumbled upon at an agriculture field near Manachanallur town in the district. Antiques including fragments of conch bangles and spindles were also recovered from the site. As the antiques were recovered near the surface, archaeological enthusiasts have urged the state government and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to explore the site.

According to S Babu, an epigraphist working as an associate professor in a private college, the farmers ploughing the fields in Solaganallur village around 12km from Manachanallur spotted the copper coins in their field. As he had already explored the village where remains of Chola era antiques were found in recent years, the locals informed him.

“Two coins recovered from the surface were found to be made of copper. One side of the coin has a lamp and Raj Raja Chola’s image in standing posture, the other side has the image of the king in Arasamarvu (sitting posture),” Babu said. The coins measure 2.5cm in diameter and weigh less than 5g each.

Babu compared the coins with similar Chola era copper coins on display in Thanjavur and Trichy museums to ascertain the age of the coins. “The coins could have been released by Rajendra Chola to commemorate his father,” he added.

As few fragments of conch bangles, spindles and stone gems were recovered from the same site, the epigraphist said that Solaganallur could have served as a trade hub for the Cholas who ruled the region for centuries. “Since Woraiyur in Trichy had served as the capital of Cholas, there is a possibility to unearth more antiques in and around Manachanallur. We have made similar findings in the past,” said Mani Maran, a Tamil scholar with Thanjavur Sarasvati Mahal library.

Babu said that the coins and antiques will be submitted to the archaeological department under Thanjavur Tamil university for further study.


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