Five punch-mark symbols / Two small punch-marks. Irregular flat silver plachet, 14x14mm, 3.30 grams. Pataliputra mint. Gupta/Hardaker ISPC series VI II D 115 (#534); MACW 4160-4161.

High quality example of a scarcer type.

Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (297 - c.272 BC) after Chandragupta Maurya. The Greeks called him Amitrochates - the Greek word for the Sanskrit 'Amitraghata' (Slayer of Enemies). Bindusara inherited a large empire that consisted of North, Central and East India as also the parts of Afghanistan and Baluchistan. Bindusara extended this empire to the southern part of India, as far as what is now known as Karnataka. He brought sixteen states under the Mauryan Empire and thus conquered almost all of the Indian peninsula (he is said to have conquered the 'land between the two seas' - the peninsular region between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea). Bindusara didn't conquer the friendly Dravidian kingdoms of the Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras. Apart from these southern states, Kalinga (the modern Orissa) was the only kingdom in India that didn't form the part of Bindusara's empire. It was later conquered by his son Ashoka, who served as the viceroy of Ujjaini (Ujjain) during his father's reign. Bindusara's life hasn't been documented as well as his father Chandragupta or his son Ashoka. The philosopher Chanakya served as prime minister during his reign. During his rule, the citizens of Taxila revolted twice. The reason for the first revolt was the maladministration of Suseema, his eldest son. The reason for the second revolt is unknown, but it could not be suppressed by Bindusara due to his untimely death, but was later crushed by Ashoka.