A single punchmark in shape of a srivatsa surrounded by tourine symbols // Blank. 4.5mm, 0.17 grams. Fishman/Todd "The Ardha-Mashakas of Magadha and Maurya" (2025) #F1 (this coin pictured); Terry Hardaker "The Mashaka Fractional Coinage of Ancient India" Ad3 var. (this exact variety not pictured)

Rare silver type pictured in the new book by Fishman and Todd ("The Ardha-Mashakas of Magadha and Maurya" (2025)) sold on this site and elsewhere).

These tiny ardha-mashakas (usually incorrectly described as mashakas), were minted during the late Magadha period / early Mauryan period in northern India, ca.350-250 BC. They were first discovered and published in 1924, but escaped much attention from numismatists, with a notable exception of Terry Hardaker's "The Mashaka Fractional Coinage of Ancient India" which he published in 1999 and re-examined by Fishman and Todd in their 2025 catalogue. Numerous different types were minted using the normal punch technique, but the utility of these tiny coins is difficult to understand.