News / Africa

Egypt Unearths Hundreds of 2,000-Year-Old Coins

An undated handout picture released by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities shows two coins dating back to the era of Ptolemy III 222-246 BC, discovered in an Egyptian oasis, south of the capital Cairo, 22 Apr 2010
An undated handout picture released by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities shows two coins dating back to the era of Ptolemy III 222-246 BC, discovered in an Egyptian oasis, south of the capital Cairo, 22 Apr 2010
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Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed several hundred bronze coins dating back to the reign of King Ptolemy, who ruled Egypt about 2,300 years ago.

Egyptian officials say the coins were found near Qarun Lake in Fayoum Oasis southwest of the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

A government statement said one side of the coins features a depiction of the god Amun, while the other shows the words "king" and "Ptolemy" in Greek.

The team also discovered necklaces made of ostrich eggshell during the dig.

Meanwhile, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities has renewed his attacks on museums he says have refused to return artifacts that rightfully belong in Egypt.

Speaking at a preview of a King Tut exhibition in New York Thursday, Zahi Hawass said Egypt will fight to get the items back.

Hawass said he has a wish list of items he wants returned from foreign museums, including the Rosetta stone in the British Museum and a bust of Queen Nefertiti in the Neues Museum in Berlin.

The Rosetta stone is more than 2,200-years-old and includes hieroglyphs inscribed by Egyptian priests.

The bust of Queen Nefertiti depicts the face of a woman renowned for her beauty and who lived more than 3,300 years ago.

 

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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