THIS GIVE MORE STRENGTH TO MY THEORY THAT SATAVAHANAS HAVE DONE DIRECT TRADE WITH ROMANSLast Updated : 19 Mar 2011 08:52:17 AM IST Express News Service
During the excavation at Panigiri, a Buddhist site in Tirumalagiri mandal in Nalgonda district, a Roman gold coin weighing 7.3 grams issued by the VII th Roman king Nerve Ceaser (96-98 AD) was recovered few days ago.
Archaeology and Museums department director P Chenna Reddy revealed that during the earlier excavations at Panigiri, Votive Stupas, Chaityas, Viharas and a congregation hall besides a good number of antiques including silver, lead and potin coins of the Satavahanas, Western Kshatrapas, Ikshvakus and Mahatalavaras belonging to the 2nd century BC to the 3rd Century AD were recovered.
“So far 60 lead coins of the Satavahana and Ikshvaku dynasties were recovered. The fact that a gold coin of Roman king Nerve (1st Century A.D) was unearthed indicates the fact that there was a brisk trade between the Telugus and the Roman empire. It was also for the first time that a Roman gold coin was recovered from a Buddhist site in Andhra Pradesh,’’ Chenna Reddy said.
Officials said that Panigiri, a very important Buddhist site in Telangana is slated for development and funds to a tune of Rs 72 lakh were allotted for its development. Officials said that Panigiri will become a major tourist attraction both for domestic and foreigners especially for South East Asian tourists in the near future.
