Expert: Ralph Salier - 6/1/2006

Question
A friend of mine sells clay and sand to the homebuilders. One day while he was digging in the outskirts of Multan City. He found few vase (Jars) all were made of clay, upon touching them they poured away and two of them were containing some food grains-they were fully decayed and had been turned into soil, one was containing about 500 silver coins. The size of these coins is comparable with nail of my pointer finger.

I was very frustrated when he gave me three of these coins saying that, I have made a ring with the rest of coins from a gold smith as these are made of silver. I know nothing about archaeology but I am sure that these are coins of the age when human was not able to give exect round shape to the coins. unfortunatly this window is not allowing me to attach the pictures.

I have three coins having two sides.
One side of all three coins is the same.
Second side of all these coins is different (suggesting different value-may be).

Would any body help me out in telling that what are these? And what is written on them and in which language. And the time. My E-mail is brand_architect@yahoo.com


Answer
Ali,  This version has a better explanation of how you came to have these coins.  I would love to also have pics of the clay jars as well.  

In the 1600's and 1700's Multan city was the site of a silver and copper mint where coins were made for the Mughal Empire and was the center of commerce for the entire south western Punjab.  The city has an ancient history so the coins could be older then this time period.  I look forward to seeing the photos.  My email is rsalier@hotmail.com