30,000 Ancient Chinese Coins Found In Bengkulu

Bengkulu, April 3 (ANTARA) - Local residents in Central Bengkulu district, Bengkulu province, Sumatra Island, found a jar containing ancient Chinese bronze coins that might date back 300 to 600 years, according to an official here Tuesday. "The jar, containing 30,500 ancient Chinese coins, weighs nearly 1,00 kg. They found the coins while digging a ditch," said Bengkulu Museum Curator Muhardi. He said the coins were circulated in China from the 14th to the 17th century. The coins will become part of a museum collection, Bengkulu said. Indonesians usually referred to such coins as "uang kepeng", and people in Bali also use them as part of an offering or in other ceremonies.