Patna,(BiharTimes): Unlike Unnao in UP where Archaeological Survey of India is reportedly excavating for gold after a saint dreamt about it, silver coins of  Mughal period worth lakhs of rupees were recovered from old city area of Purnea when the digging was going on for the construction of a temple on Monday.

The coins are packed in eight earthen pots.

Local people of Chandni Chowk locality noticed shiny silver coins  mixed with soil while labours were engaged in the digging work. When they dug deep they found more than 5,000 silver coins kept in eight earthen pots.

The news spread like a wild fire and thousands of people gathered at the place. However, the police dispersed them and took the coins in their possession. The matter is yet to be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India.

The coins have inscriptions in Arabic or related language and details are not yet available.

Local officials said the area where the coins were found had fortress of Nawabs during Mughal empire and later kings.