Punch Marked Coin

19077

Punch Marked Coin

19077

Description

The earliest evidence of metal currency in India goes back to the 7th Century BCE, about 2700 years ago! These early coins were made in silver and have no significant shape or size. They are found in round, oval, square, rectangle, and other angular forms. These early coins have no inscriptions on them but are punched with various symbols like human figures, floral and geometrical patterns, religious symbols, trees, and plant motifs, etc. They are called punch-marked coins.
There were sixteen main states known as Shodasha Mahajanapadas in Ancient India. These earliest punch-marked coins were issued by these sixteen states. They had names like Magadha, Kuru, Panchala, Surasena, Gandhara, etc.
In the 3rd Century BCE, the Magadha Janapada acquired supremacy over a large area, and with the extension of Mauryan power, their coins became the currency of the sub-continent.
These Mauryan coins generally have five symbols on them and have a thicker flan. Each symbol is specific to a particular region.

Collection

Numismatics

Object Type

Coin

Material

Silver

Schools/Culture/Period

Magadha Janapada

Technique

Punchmarked

Date

6th to 2nd century BCE

Location

North India

Dimension

Weight: 3.5 gm