Robbers make off with priceless Treasure of Benghazi after drilling into underground vault at Libyan bank

<b>By Daily Mail Reporter</b>
Updated: 09:01 BST, 31 October 2011

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A gang of Libyan looters have raided a priceless collection of gold and silver coins that are believed to date back to the time of Alexander the Great.

The thieves carried off with the pieces, known as The Treasure of Benghazi, having drilled through a concrete ceiling at the National Commercial Bank of Benghazi.

<u><b>An expert has described the raid as 'one of the greatest thefts in archeological history.'</b></u>

<u>Silver didrachm, part of The Treasure of Benghazi collection have been stolen by looters in Libya</u>

Whilst the break-in was initially believed to have been part of the uprising against Muammar Gadaffi, Hafed Walada, a Libyan archeologist working at King's College London told The Sunday Times; 'It may have been an inside job.

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