British period coins found in Sri Kalahasti

Tirupati, Jan 30 (PTI) About 1,800 coins bearing the imageof Queen Victoria, believed to be about 120 years old, wereseized from three fishermen in Sri Kalahasti, 40 km from here,revenue officials said today.

The seized coins, dating back to 1891, are believed to bemade of brass and weigh a combined three and a half kg, theofficials said.

The fishermen were trying to sell the coins to a pawnbroker in Sri Kalahasti when they were detained, they said.

The officials added that the fishermen had come intopossession of the coins when fishing in the Swarnamukhi rivernear Sri Kalahasti.

The coins have been handed over to Chittoor DistrictCollector, they said, adding, police have taken the fishermeninto custody for questioning.