Iranian police have announced the discovery of 12 historical coins during an inspection of a woman's residence in the religious city of Qom.

Faramarz Bazgir, the commander of the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit in Qom, revealed that among the coins, 10 are silver and date back to the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian eras, while the remaining two are copper coins from the Safavid period. The suspect in possession of the coins has been handed over to judicial authorities.

In accordance with Iranian law, such historical coins and artifacts are considered part of the national heritage and are prohibited from sale or export unless expressly authorized by relevant authorities.

Iran, renowned for its millennia-old cultural heritage, has faced numerous challenges in preserving and protecting the invaluable artifacts.

Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Iranian regime shifted towards emphasizing Islamic culture and values, occasionally leading to a more conservative stance regarding pre-Islamic artifacts.

Despite efforts, the Islamic Republic has failed to curb the smuggling and illegal trade of historical items, with smuggling networks taking advantage of economic incentives and global demand for Persian antiquities, resulting in the loss of irreplaceable heritage items.

Some historical sites and artifacts have suffered from neglect, insufficient maintenance, and the effects of environmental factors, prompting concerns among archaeologists and heritage conservationists about the state of preservation.