A scrap metal collector has struck treasure in the central coastal province of Quang Binh, with a find of centuries-old Chinese coins believed to date back to the Tang dynasty of China.

Nguyen Duc Dung from Le Thuy district, discovered the pot of copper coins as he was digging in a rice field on July 5.

Most of the coins are clearly engraved on one side with four letters from ancient Chinese scripts of the period with the other side left clear.

Provincial museum Director Tran Anh Tuan said the design showed that the coins were probably minted in the 8th – 9th centuries.

“These coins were found in Quang Binh province because the money was circulated into Vietnam for trading during the heyday of the Tang dynasty,” said the artifact expert.

Dung uncovered some 20 kilogrammes in total which he sold at VND 200,000 (US $12.5) per kilogramme. (VNA)