Gold coins unearthed in Kurnool

P Chenna Reddy, director in the department of archaeology and museums, said bronze images of Tandava Krishna, Tirumangai Alwar, a slate stone image of Veera Bhadra, a bronze bell, prabhamandala (the symbolic ring of fire encircling Nataraja’s image) and gold coins had been discovered in the Sanjamala mandal of the district. 

The archeologists have in all unearthed two lots of ancient artifacts in Sanjamala and Alvakonda villages.  Similarly, workers at a construction site stumbled upon a copper vase at a depth of one metre during the construction of a house at Racharla in Peapally mandal in the district. There were 20 gold coins, each weighing 3.40 gms, in the vase.

Each of the coins has images of Lord Vishnu with four hands flanked by Goddess Sridevi and Bhudevi. These coins belong to the  Vijayanagara period (16th -17th century). These are generally termed as “spherules” (commemorative) in nature issued probably on festive occasions. The gold coins are on display at the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy AP State Museum in Hyderabad. Another treasure trove consisting nine golden ornaments has been received from the Jupadu Bungalow mandal. It included a “talibottu” and other gold ornaments weighing 194.60 grams. It was found by a labourer in the fields of Boya Ramanaidu of Parsumanchala village.

Kurnool is also home to pre-historic rock paintings at Ketavaram.  Over 100 figures were drawn on the flat surface of basalt rocks, possibly with acidic pen or iron red oxide. Several archaeologists who visited the site grouped them as the art of Mesolithic to megalithic period ranging from 6,000 BC to AD 200.