1/4 Karshapana

The Mauryan punch-marked coinage system is among the oldest documented state-issued currency in South Asia, predating the better-known Greek influence on Indian numismatics. These fractional pieces circulated across an empire stretching from the Hindu Kush to Bengal, facilitating trade in a highly monetized economy that Greek ambassadors like Megasthenes described with evident surprise.

Authentication is the central challenge with this series. Forgeries and post-Mauryan imitations were produced in antiquity, and distinguishing genuine imperial issues from regional copies requires attention to punch placement and silver fineness rather than any single visual marker.