Rare Arabic Coins Found in Buried Poland Treasure

Silver Arabic dirhams. The Daily Mail
Silver Arabic dirhams. The Daily Mail
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Rare Arabic Coins Found in Buried Poland Treasure

Silver Arabic dirhams. The Daily Mail
Silver Arabic dirhams. The Daily Mail

Farmers in northwest Poland have unearthed silver coins, including rare Arabic dirhams, along with a slew of other artifacts, Britain's The Daily Mail reported.

Farmers in the region have been ploughing along a sloped field for decades. More than 300 treasures have been discovered as part of an effort to collect these valuable discoveries, which include dirham coins.

Researcher and archaeologist Marcin Dziewianowski, who is conducting the excavations, said: “The farmers scattered the treasure in the field for decades.”

“We found parts of it in an area measuring 60 meters by 15 meters,” he said.

He added: “We started digging after locals began finding old coins in the field and we became interested in the place.”

According to experts, the objects could be the treasure of a jeweler or a smith from more than 1,000 years ago. 

“We managed to find whole Arabian dirham coins and other coins including a very rare one attributed to the Volga-Kama Bulghar tribe,” The Daily Mail quoted Dziewanowski as saying.

“A great part of the coins have been partially melted which outlines the use of the treasure. Also fragments of jewelry, earrings, beads and silver bars were found.”



‘Archaeological Masterpieces’ Stolen from Dutch Museum

FILE PHOTO: A decorated bracelet is displayed at the opening of "Antique Gold and Silver of Romania" exhibition at Romania's National History Museum in Bucharest December 19, 2013. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A decorated bracelet is displayed at the opening of "Antique Gold and Silver of Romania" exhibition at Romania's National History Museum in Bucharest December 19, 2013. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo
TT

‘Archaeological Masterpieces’ Stolen from Dutch Museum

FILE PHOTO: A decorated bracelet is displayed at the opening of "Antique Gold and Silver of Romania" exhibition at Romania's National History Museum in Bucharest December 19, 2013. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A decorated bracelet is displayed at the opening of "Antique Gold and Silver of Romania" exhibition at Romania's National History Museum in Bucharest December 19, 2013. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo

Three gold bracelets and a helmet featured in an exhibition at The Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, were stolen on Friday night after thieves stormed the museum using an explosive device.

The exhibition, “Dacia - Empire of Gold and Silver,” presented a loaned artistic pieces from Romania. It was scheduled to continue until the end of the week.

However, police received a report around 3:45 am local time Saturday about an explosion at the museum. Upon arrival, officers found the museum damaged and the gold masterpieces gone.

The stolen artifacts — described by the museum as “archaeological masterpieces” — include the golden helmet of Cotofenesti, a famed relic that dates back to roughly 450 BC.

Historian Dimitri Tilloi-d'Ambrosi said the helmet is a “jewel” and represented one of the precious artifacts that were displayed in the exhibition. He added that Dacia was a strong kingdom north of the Danube, and was famous for gold and silver mines.

The museum’s director, Harry Tupan, said the institution had never seen “such a major incident” in its 170-year history.

“This is a dark day for the Drents Museum in Assen and the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest. We are intensely shocked,” he said.

The museum’s premises were damaged by the explosion, though no injuries were reported. It remained closed through the weekend due to the robbery.

Dutch police announced that they are working with global police agency Interpol. Investigators are currently looking for information about a gray car that was stolen from the nearby city of Alkmaar earlier in the week and was discovered around four miles from the crime scene, on fire, shortly after the overnight heist.

Police believe the suspects abandoned the vehicle, which had stolen license plates, and fled in a different getaway car.

Dutch authorities contacted the Romanian government to investigate the case.