Panaji: The Goa government has stumbled upon a priceless treasure of heritage value in one of its strongboxes at a Portuguese-era building, which was used as the office of the Directorate of Accounts until recently.
State Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters on Friday that the treasure, including copper coins, gold pieces, and household items with heritage value, were found in the strongbox when it was opened in the presence of the state-appointed committee.
He said that this is the second time since Goa’s liberation (in 1961) that the strongbox was opened by the state government, which is located in the Directorate of Accounts building in Panaji.
The strongbox was first opened in 1991. The state government has recently moved the Directorate of Accounts office from Panaji to the outskirts village of Porvorim, where it has constructed a building named “Lekha Bhavan.”
He said that 5,000 antique coins, 307 copper coins of different dates weighing 3.15 kgs, 814 pieces of coins with Arabic inscription weighing 4.78 kgs, another Queen Victoria Empress 786 copper coins, gold pieces weighing 2.23 kgs, household items like tumblers, plates, etc., were found in the safe.
The chief minister said that the strongbox was removed as it was taken to the new building.
“All the items were documented and kept back in the box,” he said, adding that the samples of these items would be displayed in the state museum.
