Customs police in Hama has confiscated 245 archaeological coins dating back to different historical periods.
The coins include 97 copper pieces from the Roman and Byzantine eras, 47 silver coins from the Islamic period, 95 Greek silver coins and 72 pieces with the head of Alexander the Great featured on one of their two faces.
Head of the Customs Police Mahmoud Sarem told SANA that they received information about a car roaming the region suspectedly trying to sell archeological coins, and that after chasing the car for several days they arrested it and the two men inside it.
The coins found in the car were proved to have been of a great archaeological importance in terms of their historical value and the variety and uniqueness of their models.
The confiscated pieces were later deposited in the National Museum of Hama.
Abdulsalam al-Bashkami, the specialist of Islamic coins at Hama Antiquities Department, said the archaeological coins weigh 14.5 to 16.5 g, while the total weight of all the 95 Greek silver coins is 1455 g.
He added that all evidence indicate that all the coin pieces are genuine and not false, particularly those from the Islamic period, pointing out that there were some counterfeiting cases of a number of the coins that carry the picture of Alexander the Great, which were unearthed over the past few years.
Author: H. Said | Global Arab Network [August 20, 2010]