London - A hoard of gold coins that apparently belonged to a titan of the British Empire will be auctioned in London after being lost at sea for 250 years.
Experts believe the treasure, discovered at the bottom of the Indian Ocean earlier this year, was once owned by Clive of India, the 18th-century British general whose battle victories secured the Indian sub-continent for Britain.
Spink's auctioneers said the 1,200 Portuguese and Brazilian coins, found at a site being kept secret by divers, are expected to fetch up to £500,000 at the November auction.