Priceless gold coins, a gold crown and a pendant of Aphrodite dating back to Alexander's time have been found in a vault beneath the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghan diplomats in Europe have confirmed.

The Bactrian gold was originally excavated in 1978 by Russian archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, in the north of Afghanistan and was immediately sent for safekeeping to Kabul.

After the outbreak of the 1978 civil war, the treasure was locked away and never seen, prompting speculation that it might have been looted by occupying Soviet troops or even subsequently destroyed by the Taliban.

Two months ago the gold was found by chance when government officials finally opened a vault that they believed would contain bullion bars belonging to the central bank.

This secure area beneath the presidential palace was sealed behind a steel door with seven locks that no previous government was able to open.

Earlier this year President Hamid Karzai brought in locksmiths from Germany who managed to gain access.

Although the US$ 90 million gold collection has attracted the greatest interest, it turns out that priceless artefacts from the Kabul museum were also preserved in the same vaults.

These include objects from the Bamiyan area where the Taliban blew up the two giant statues of the Buddha in 2001.

Experts have revealed that the Bactrian gold excavated by Sarianidi came from six graves at an area called Tillya Tepe, dating from around 2,000 years ago.

It consisted of over 20,000 gold objects, including jewellery of semi-precious stones and coins, a collapsible gold crown, a ceremonial diadem, a dress clasp with two cupids, a pendant of Aphrodite, an intricate belt and a dagger encrusted with jewels.

The graves are believed to have belonged to members of the Kushan family.