Hoard of Islamic-era gold and silver coins discovered behind Egyptian temple

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a nearly 1,000-year-old cache of gold and silver coins behind a temple in Esna, a city along the Nile.

The treasure, which was discovered by a team of researchers from Egyptyou‘s Supreme Council for Archaeology, includes coins minted in different parts of the Islamic era, which began in 610 AD (opens in a new tab)when Muhammad received his first revelation, and lasted until about the the 13th century (opens in a new tab).

Notable coins found during the excavations, which began last year, include 286 silver coins of kings and kingdoms from that era, as well as a variety of gold coins, a coin from Armenia which was minted during the reign of King Leo II in the 13th century, and bronze and brass coins from the Ottoman Empire.

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Among the “hidden treasures” were also found dirhams (silver coins used in several Arab states, including today’s United Arab Emirates) minted by various kings and sultans. Additionally, the researchers discovered molds and weights that were used during the coining process, according to a translation. statement (opens in a new tab).

Archaeologists (opens in a new tab) do not know why the coin hoard was abandoned at the temple site and hopes that further analysis of the cache will provide clues to the history of the coins, according to the statement.

Originally posted on Live Science.