Periyapatna: About 140 Silver coins with the embossed picture of Queen Victoria was found while digging trenches for foundation to a house at Harinahalli village in the taluk yesterday.

It is said that one Annegowda, had given contract to workers from Ootymanti village to demolish his old house and dig trenches for the foundation, during which the workers found the silver coins.

The workers after finding the silver coins did not inform anyone and were trying to sell the same at a pawn broker shop, when someone informed the jurisdictional Bettadapura Police.

Bettadapura SI Chikkaswamy, who rushed to the spot, seized the silver coins and registered a case.

SI Chikkaswamy, who visited the spot, where trenches were dug for the foundation for the house, found a tunnel and an ancient stone inscription. As the news spread, curious villagers thronged the place to have a glimpse of the tunnel and the stone inscription.

It is said that the silver coins belonged to 1840 which would be ascertained only after the officials of the Archaeology Department  conduct a research and submit a report.

Periyapatna Circle Inspector H.N. Siddaiah also visited the spot and collected information about the Silver coins from Bettadapura SI Chikkaswamy at the Police Station.