Overview
- The discovery occurred during trench work inside the sanctum of the Later Chola-era Shiva temple at Kovilur near Jamunamarathur in Tiruvannamalai on November 3.
- Workers found an earthen pot holding 103 coins of varying sizes and shapes and immediately alerted authorities.
- Revenue and HR&CE officials took custody at the site, and police said no case has been registered.
- Collector K. Tharpagaraj directed district curator S. Baskar and the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department to evaluate the coins and report their findings.
- Preliminary readings point to punch-marked gold pieces with a pig emblem linked to Vijayanagara coinage, and officials say the cache will go to the district treasury with a possible museum display under the Treasure Trove Act.