Rare type - silver punch drachm (karshapana) of Mahapadma Nanda and his successors (ca.370-320 BC), Magadha Empire, Ancient India (G/H 431)

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Five punch-mark symbols / A number of bankers' marks. Irregular flat silver plachet, 18mmx16mm, 3.19 grams. Scarce. Gupta/Hardaker ISPC #431.

The coin is made of good silver, but it got coated with copper deposits when it was hoarded next to the copper objects.

These silver coins with various punchmarks are the earliest silver Indian coins. Magadha was an ancient kingdomof India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It wasalso one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of Buddha,having risen to power during the reigns of Bimbisara (c. 544-491 BCE)and his son Ajatashatru (c. 491-460 BCE). The core of the kingdom wasthat portion of Bihar lying south of the Ganges, with its capital atRajagriha (modern Rajgir). Magadha expanded to include most of Biharand parts of Bengal with the conquest of Anga, and then expanded up theGanges valley annexing Kosala and Kashi. Magadha formed one of thesixteen so-called Mahajanapadas (Sanskrit, 'great country'). TheMagadha empire included republican communities such as Rajakumara.Villages had their own assemblies under their local chiefs calledGramakas. Their administrations were divided into executive, judicial,and military functions. Bimbisara was friendly to both Jainism andBuddhism and suspended tolls at the river ferries for all asceticsafter the Buddha was once stopped at the Ganges River for lack of money.


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