Catalog
Karshapana
| Issuer | Mauryan Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 322 BC - 185 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Karshapana |
| 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 |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Irregular flat silver flan of roughly square form bearing multiple punch-marked symbols applied directly to the surface, a technique characteristic of early Indian coinage. The field displays at least two distinct punched devices, including what appears to be a curved or crescent-like symbol and an arrow or diagonal linear motif, both struck in intaglio relief against the plain silver ground. These banker's marks or royal symbols are typical of Mauryan imperial punch-marked coinage and served as guarantees of weight and authenticity. No legend or inscription is present, and the coin is not attributable to a specific ruler within the Mauryan dynasty. The flan edges are irregular and uneven, consistent with the hand-cut and hand-punched production methods of the period. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | ND (322 BC - 185 BC) |
| Additional information |
The Mauryan karshapana was not struck in the modern sense — it was punched, each coin receiving multiple official stamps applied separately, sometimes at different times or locations, resulting in the chaotic punch-marked surface that confuses novice collectors. The weight standard traces to earlier janapada coinage and was maintained with surprising consistency across the empire's vast geography, from the Gangetic plain to the edges of the former Achaemenid satrapies absorbed after Alexander's withdrawal.
Attributing specific punches to individual rulers remains genuinely unsettled scholarship.