Catalog
1/4 Karshapana
| Issuer | Mauryan Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 340 BC - 181 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 1 g |
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| Obverse description | Irregular square flan bearing one or more punch-marked symbols in shallow relief, characteristic of Mauryan imperial coinage. The central field displays a curved or crescent-like motif accompanied by abstract geometric or symbolic punches, applied individually by a punch-marking technique. The devices are deeply impressed into the copper surface, which exhibits a granular texture and patinated finish consistent with ancient cast production. No legend or inscription is present; identification relies entirely on the iconographic content of the punched symbols. The overall design is typical of the fractional punch-marked coinage issued under Mauryan imperial authority. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (340 BC - 181 BC) |
| Additional information |
Mauryan copper fractions are poorly understood even by specialists — the punch-marked system used across this coinage involved multiple punch applications by different officials, making attribution to specific reigns within the dynasty's 150-year span almost impossible without hoard context. Chandragupta's administration likely standardized these fractional weights as part of the same fiscal apparatus described in the Arthashastra, which specifies mint officials, alloy tolerances, and coin-testing procedures in remarkable bureaucratic detail.