On Wednesday, more than 450 gold coins were found under a boulder on a hill near Ankalamma temple at Chittepalli village in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) director (epigraphy) K Muniratnam Reddy said the gold coins, dating back to the 15th and 17th centuries, belonged to the Vijayanagara King Harihara I and II, and the Delhi Sultanates. A few gold coins have a depiction of the Delhi mint on the margin, he said.

Pointing out that the coins were found near the oldest temple in the region, he said, “In medieval times, people used to deposit their money in temples as there was no proper banking system.”

He further urged the Tirupati MP to preserve the coins which could later be displayed at the proposed new ASI Museum.