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Karshapana
| Issuer | Mauryan Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 300 BC - 150 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Plain or nearly plain square flan bearing a single punch-marked symbol in low relief, positioned toward the left portion of the field. The symbol appears as a circular or floral motif, consistent with a single banker's or issuer's mark commonly found on the reverse of Mauryan punch-marked coinage. The surface is worn and patinated, with the characteristic rough texture of a cast and punched ancient bronze flan. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The Mauryan karshapana presents a classification headache that has occupied scholars for decades — the series spans multiple dynasties, regional mints, and weight standards, making precise attribution genuinely difficult. Bronze examples complicate matters further, as the canonical imperial karshapana was silver; bronze issues tend to represent local or subsidiary circulation rather than central Pataliputra production, and their punch-mark sequences often reflect regional monetary authority rather than imperial decree.