173 Ancient Coins Mistakenly Brought to Egypt, Returned to 4 Countries

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities handed over 173 items to various countries during a press conference at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir that were mistakenly collected from abroad alongside Egyptian treasures.

Four nations received the relics, which also included a variety of various currencies, including 33 coins from the People's Republic of China, 133 coins from Saudi Arabia, six coins from Iraq, and four from Jordan.

According to Ahmed Essa, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt not only protects its own culture, antiquities, and history but also those of other nations.

The ministry plays a crucial role in seizing any stolen Egyptian artefacts before they are taken overseas, along with any other artefacts belonging to other nations with ancient heritage. It does this through the central administration of ports and archaeological units in Egyptian ports.

The coins received by Saudi Arabia are said to be of various denominations, including (a quarter, a half, one and two riyals, a quarter and a half, and one piaster), all of which originate from various periods of time from the reign of King Abdulaziz al-Saud.

The 4 fils and 1 riyal coins that were delivered to the Iraqi Embassy are from King Faisal I's era.

Jordan was given three coins with denominations of 5 and 10 piastres from the reign of King Hussein bin Ali and one with a quarter-dinar value from the reign of King Hussein bin Talal.

The coins that were brought back to China are from the Ming Dynasty.