17th Century Javanese Coins Discovered in Thames

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2003-12-27 09:05
90 copper coins, washed up from London's Thames River, have stumped archaeologists. Scientists are at a loss to understand how a bundle containing 90 17th century Javanese coins came to be in the Thames River. The hexagonally-shaped coins are made of a copper alloy and are pierced with a hole and inscribed with the words "Lord King of Bantam." Bantam was an important trading post in the East Indies at a time when both Holland and England were vying for power in the region.