Kushan Period Copper Coins Discovered At Mohenjo Daro In Sindh, Marks First Such Discovery Since Pakistan's Formation

A team of experts on Thursday (16 November) announced discovery of a pot filled with copper coins on the Western side of the Mohenjodaro stupa's Divinity street situated in Pakistan's Sindh. This marks the first noteworthy archaeological find at the 5,000-year-old city site in 93 years.

The team worked for three hours, safely securing the coins, which appeared thickly rusted and stuck together in the debris along with the jar that housed them. The jar, weighing about five and a half kilograms, was later transferred to the soil testing laboratory at the site, The Dawn reported.

Sheikh Javed Sindhi, engaged in research at the site, highlighted that 4,348 copper coins dating back to the Kushan Period (2nd to 5th Century AD) were previously excavated by RD Banerji, Sir John Marshall, and Mackay from 1922 to 1931. He emphasised that the current discovery is remarkable after 93 years, crediting the Mohenjodaro team.

Rustam Bhutto, in charge of the soil and water testing laboratory, explained that the treatment process to separate the amalgamated coins would take at least a month to reveal the figures and language on the coins.

Shakir Shah informed journalists that the coins likely belong to the Kushan Period. Research on the coins can only commence after they become visible through special treatment at the laboratory. Once the process and research are complete, the coins will be exhibited at the Mohenjodaro Museum for visitors.

Despite the jar being broken, the coins remained intact, discovered between walls built of unbaked bricks at a height of 15 feet from the street. The coins' inscriptions will be examined by experts to determine the period and the specific Kushan dynasties they belong to.