Are there states where buying or selling old coins near archaeological sites is specially restricted?
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (AMASR Act), administered by ASI, prohibits any construction, mining, excavation, or removal of earth within a 100-metre 'prohibited area' and a 200-metre 'regulated area' around centrally protected monuments. While the AMASR Act does not specifically prohibit buying or selling coins near these sites, it prohibits excavation — which is the activity that generates illegally obtained coins. Several states have additionally notified extended protection zones around major archaeological sites, and state police in those areas actively monitor coin dealers operating in their vicinity.
The AMASR Act framework — prohibited and regulated areas
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 creates a 100-metre 'prohibited area' around every centrally protected monument where construction, mining, and excavation are completely prohibited. Beyond that, a further 200-metre 'regulated area' exists where any development requires ASI permission. The Act does not contain a specific prohibition on coin trading within these areas — the prohibition is on excavation and construction that might disturb the archaeological context.
However, a coin dealer operating within the prohibited area of a significant archaeological site — near Hampi, near the sites around Sanchi, near Nalanda — is in an area where any coins offered for sale are presumptively suspect. ASI and state police treat coin trading near protected sites as an indicator of potential illegal excavation activity. The dealer's AATA licence and purchase records are more scrutinised in these contexts.
State-specific site protection zones
Several states have extended the central AMASR framework through state legislation or notifications. Rajasthan, with its dense concentration of historical sites from Mauryan, Gupta, and Rajput periods, has state-level protected monument notifications that create additional buffer zones. Karnataka's Directorate of Archaeology and Museums actively monitors coin dealers near Hampi and the Deccan Sultanate sites in Bidar and Gulbarga. Uttar Pradesh's significant concentration of ASI-protected sites (Agra, Varanasi, Mathura, Sarnath) means the state police archaeological wing is among the most active in the country.
The practical guidance for collectors near archaeological sites
A collector attending a numismatic fair in a city near a major archaeological site — Patna (near Nalanda), Varanasi, Hampi, Ajmer (near multiple Rajput sites) — should: deal only with AATA-licensed dealers who can provide purchase records; avoid buying any coin offered as a 'field find' without documentation of legitimate excavation and reporting; and be prepared for police or ASI archaeology wing enquiries if attending events near protected sites. Legitimate collectors with documented purchases have nothing to fear; the concern is specifically about coins that have been illegally excavated from protected sites.
Laws & authorities referenced in this chapter
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (AMASR) — 100m prohibited area; 200m regulated area around protected monuments
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010 — reinforcement of AMASR prohibited area framework
Antiquities and Art Treasures Act 1972 — §13 (find reporting: relevant near archaeological sites)
State archaeology acts (Rajasthan, Karnataka, UP) — state-level extended protection zones
AMASR Act: 100m prohibited area + 200m regulated area around centrally protected monuments — excavation prohibited; coin trading not specifically prohibited but scrutinised. State extensions: Rajasthan, Karnataka, UP have state-level extended protection zones; archaeology departments active. Risk for collectors: buying near protected sites from undocumented sources = presumed suspect by ASI/police. Protection: buy only from AATA-licensed dealers with purchase records; avoid any 'field finds' without documentation. Legitimate documented collecting: no restriction by proximity to archaeological sites.
This is educational content, not legal advice. For a specific situation, please consult a qualified legal professional. Excerpted from Currency, Coins & The Law by Mayank Agarwal, Part 31: State-Level Laws & Regional Variations — State Archaeology Laws, Treasure Trove, Exhibition Permissions, J&K, Northeast India, GST Thresholds, ASI vs State Departments.