You are here: Home » City » Mysore Roman silver coins of Shatavahana period found CHIKMAGALUR/MYSORE: A team of archeologists have excavated Roman silver coins at Anuvanahalli in Tarikere taluk in Chikmagalur. It is now believed that the Romans might have tried to trade in medicinal plants which were found abundantly in the region given that the site looks like a herbal medicine preparation plant. A team of experts are working on the site focusing on the possible reasons for the Romans' interest in the area. The team led by N S Rangaraju, professor of ancient history and archaeology, the University of Mysore, commenced the project with the funding from the UGC and excavated many items that date back to prehistoric, neolithic and megalithic cultures. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...avahana-period-found/articleshow/13547519.cms
The article gives no details about the coins found, and no pictures. Roman coins circulated far beyond the borders of the Roman Empire. They have been found in China, India, and Ceylon.
Not real sure as to why they seem suprised by the find after all it is not as though India was unheard of (remember Alexander had already visited LOL) the romans would have known all about it.
The Romans had extensive trade ties with India. Ships travelled between India and modern day Eritrea, (they could not sail up the Red Sea with prevailing winds against them), and good transported across land to the Nile for passage to Alexandria. Actually trade with India was a huge gold drain on the Romans. The Indians really didn't want anything the Romans had, so gold was transferred. Trade with China was more through middlemen, with goods exchanged, so less of a gold drain to the Romans. There are series of contemporary counterfeit Roman coins found in India, so evidently not all Roman gold was melted right away, some must have circulated.
