i n d i a

The earliest Indian coinage began about 600 BC in the Ganges valley and adjacent regions with a series of punchmarked issues. A brief synopsis of the history of all the different cultures listed below is in the works. The organization follows Mitchiner's Ancient and Classical World and Non-Islamic States.


r e f e r e n c e s


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Please also see Pankaj Tandon's site, CoinIndia, the Virtual Museum of Indian Coins


Pre-Mauryan Period (circa 600 - 321 BC)

Kashi Kingdom

Kosala Kingdom

Magadha Kingdom


Successors of Ajatashatru (462 - 414 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 3939v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 294v. (type III I A 9)
19 mm.
3.30 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: At least 5 punched symbols including: Sun; 6-armed symbol; three 'lotus buds', each containing a taurine symbol; three fish (?) or plants (?) arranged geometrically around a central anulet; plant symbol.
Reverse: 3 punched symbols: Eye (?), four-fingered hand print (?) and sun.


Successors of Ajatashatru (462 - 414 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 3983v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 299v. (type III II A 6)
24 x 20 mm.
3.27 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 6 punched symbols including: 2 suns; 6-armed symbol; cartouche containing elephant goad, fish (?) and taurine symbol; railed tree of taurine symbols with fish (?), left, underneath; standard (?) with tail curling to the left.
Reverse: Blank.


Period of Saisunaga and Kalasoka (circa 420 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 3997v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 305v. (type III IV A 1)
22 mm.
3.11 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Overstruck on earlier issue. Traces of at least 9 punched symbols including: 2 suns; 6-armed symbol; elephant; dog surrounded by taurine symbols.
Reverse: Traces of undertype; numerous bankers marks.


Period of the Eight Sons of Mahapadma Nanda (circa 340 - 320 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 4054v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 442v. (type IV XXXII A 1)
22 x 14 mm.
3.40 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 6 punched symbols: Sun, 6-armed symbol, plant on hill symbol, humped bull, elephant and taurine (?) symbol.
Reverse: Blank.

Upper Ganges Valley

Kuru and Panchala

Anonymous (circa 400 - 350 BC)
AE Satamana
Mitchiner ACW 4069
14 x 25 x 5 mm.
11.54 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Septa-radiate symbol stamped at each end of bar.
Reverse: Blank.


Anonymous (circa 400 - 350 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW -
14 x 11 mm.
1.58 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Triskeles with crescents and dots.
Reverse: Blank.

Indus Valley

Taxila and Gandhara

Anonymous (circa 500 - 300 BC)
AR Satamana
Mitchiner ACW 4076
43 x 10 x 3 mm.
10.67 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Septa-radiate symbol at each end; three other punchmarks (single pellet, heart shape with two pellets [Jalalabad (?)], two crescents, one pellet, two 'insects' [Taxila (?)].
Reverse: Blank.


Anonymous (circa 500 - 300 BC)
AR Satamana
Mitchiner ACW 4073v.
36 x 10 x 4 mm.
8.08 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Septa-radiate symbol at each end.
Reverse: Blank.


Anonymous (circa 500 - 300 BC)
AR 1/8 Satamana
Mitchiner ACW 4079
14 mm.
1.25 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Septa-radiate symbol.
Reverse: Blank.


Anonymous (circa 500 - 300 BC)
AR 1/8 Satamana
Mitchiner
14 x 12 mm.
0.92 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Septa-radiate symbol.
Reverse: Blank.

Narbada Valley

Avanti Kingdom

Anonymous (circa 400 - 312 BC)
AR 1/2 Karshapana (Animal series)
Mitchiner ACW 4107
12 x 8 mm.
1.56 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Very stylized fish above lion; taurine punchmarks.
Reverse: Taurine punchmark.
Note: Although attributed to the period of the Avanti Kingdom by Mitchiner, and to the area around Malwa, other sources report that these coins are only found to the northeast, in the Surasena area (Mathura). [see Jain, Ancient Indian Coinage, page 46]

Saurashtra Penninsula

Eastern Deccan

Mauryan Empire (321 - 187 BC)


Period of Chandragupta (circa 321 - 297 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series V)
Mitchiner ACW 4215; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 523 (type V XVI C 112)
15 x 12 mm.
3.43 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 5 punched symbols: Sun, 6-armed symbol, four bull heads around pellet, figure walking left and dog or hare within crescent.
Reverse: Four bull heads around pellet (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 14).


General series (circa 321 - 187 BC)
AR One Ratti
Mitchiner ACW 4272; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC -
4 mm.
0.11 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 1 punched symbol: 6-armed symbol.
Reverse: Blank.


Period of Ashoka (circa 272 - 232 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 4178; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 566 (type 4C VI IV C 142)
12 x 13 mm.
3.21 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Period of Ashoka (circa 272 - 232 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series Vb)
Mitchiner ACW 4229 - 4234v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 510v. (type V XIV A 21)
11 x13 mm.
3.40 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: At least 5 punched symbols: Sun; 6-armed symbol; Ashoka's regal symbol; tree (?), bull.
Reverse: Pellet surrounded by 4 crescents (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 478) stamped over rooster on stupa symbol (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 265); 2 large crescents with pellet weakly struck.


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VI)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 544v. (type VI IV B 5)
15 mm.
3.08 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VIb)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 560v.
16 x 12 mm.
3.17 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VIb)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 566
12 x 13 mm.
2.38 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VI)
Mitchiner ACW 4185; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 571 (type VI IV E 27)
12 x 11 mm.
3.34 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 5 punched symbols: Sun, 6-armed symbol, humped bull, stupa, 'm' within rectangle.
Reverse: Four bull heads around pellet (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 14).


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VI)
Mitchiner ACW 4195-4197; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 574 (type VI IV F 145)
15 x 12 mm.
3.42 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 5 punched symbols: Sun, 6-armed symbol, hill symbol, plant symbol and humped bull.
Reverse: Pellet surrounded by 2 crescents and 2 arrow-type symbols (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 473 'Taxila' symbol).


[4195_5]
AR Karshapana


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VI)
Mitchiner ACW 4195-4197; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 574 (type VI IV F 145)
14 x16 mm.
3.28 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 5 punched symbols: Sun, 6-armed symbol, hill symbol, plant symbol and humped bull.
Reverse: Pellet surrounded by 2 crescents and 2 arrow-type symbols (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 473 'Taxila' symbol).


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VI)
Mitchiner ACW 4195-4197; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 574 (type VI IV F 145)
16 x 13 mm.
3.34 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 5 punched symbols: Sun, 6-armed symbol, hill symbol, plant symbol and humped bull.
Reverse: Pellet surrounded by 2 crescents and 2 arrow-type symbols (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 473 'Taxila' symbol).


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Mitchiner ACW 4247v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 584v. (type VII I A 18)
14 mm.
3.42 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 5 punched symbols: 3 separate human figures, dog and Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 18.
Reverse: 'Standard' (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 474).


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 586-587v.
14 x 11 mm.
2.68 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Mitchiner ACW 4245v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 590 (type VII II C 24)
12 x15 mm.
2.42 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 3 punched symbols: 3 figures, rooster on stupa and geometrical symbol.
Reverse: Rooster on stupa symbol (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 477).


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 591
10 x 15 mm.
2.57 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 591
14 mm.
2.68 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII (?))
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 594 type variant (?)
13 x 12 mm.
2.72 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse: 



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