Struck in northern India during the Mauryan period, this silver karshapana belongs to one of the earliest and most influential monetary traditions in the ancient world. Long before portrait coinage became standard, these pieces circulated as trusted weights of silver, marked with symbolic punches rather than rulers’ faces.
This coin represents a moment when empire, trade, and symbolism converged, carrying meaning through signs understood by those who handled it rather than through inscriptions.
The History
Mauryan punchmarked coinage emerged in the centuries following the rise of large-scale state formation in the Indian subcontinent. Rather than depicting kings, these coins relied on a system of symbols that conveyed authority, legitimacy, and regional identity. Each punch was applied individually, reflecting a monetary system based on weight, trust, and circulation rather than centralized portraiture.
This example displays a clear group of symbolic marks traditionally associated with the Taxila region, a major center of trade and administration along routes linking South Asia with Central Asia and the Hellenistic world. The imagery includes cosmological and natural motifs such as celestial symbols, plant forms, and animal imagery. Particularly notable is the elephant motif, an animal closely associated with royal power, stability, and the Mauryan state itself.
The coin shows wear consistent with circulation in antiquity, indicating that it functioned as working currency rather than a ceremonial object. Toning and retained lustre in the recesses preserve both its age and its material character. Pieces like this would have passed through countless hands, embedded in everyday transactions across one of antiquity’s most expansive empires.
What’s Included
The authentic ancient silver karshapana shown
Carefully prepared and set as a finished pendant
A sterling silver chain
Protective packaging suitable for storage or gifting
Documentation describing the coin and its historical context
Coin Details
Ancient India
Mauryan Empire
Circa 2nd Century BC
Silver karshapana
Mauryan Empire Silver Karshapana
$565.00
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FAQs
Are all coins authentic?
Yes! All coins are genuine, not replicas. Fakes are rare because good forgeries take too much effort for low-value coins, and bad ones are easy to spot.
Where are your coins bought?
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What if my pendant needs repair?
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