More than 250 ancient coins taken in the 1960s and 1970s by British scientists for archaeological studies were returned to Afghanistan Monday, officials said. "The coins, an important part of our cultural history, have returned after 40 years, with support from Afghan and British officials," Afghan official Daud Yaar told reporters in Kabul.

The coins are from the Koshanid dynasty, which ruled Afghanistan in the 2nd and 3rd century AD, according to officials. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, Afghan Minister of Information and Culture, said the coins were "very precious, belonging to a bright cultural and economic era."

Tens of thousands of Afghan artefacts and relics were looted and smuggled to different countries during the civil war, from 1992-96, and during the Taliban regime from 1996-2001. Officials believe that more than 70 per cent of the contents of the National Museum, including centuries-old artefacts and statues, were stolen during that time. Many others were stolen from historic sites across the country.

Copyright Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 2012