BCE 0320 - 0175 MAURYAN EMPIRE. ND (ca. 320–175 BCE). AR Karshapana. Multiple Punchmarks Including Anthropomorphic Figures.
Description
Mauryan Karshapana with Anthropomorphic Punchmarks (ca. 320–175 BCE)
Mauryan Empire
This silver karshapana belongs to the punchmarked coinage of the Mauryan Empire, one of the earliest and most influential imperial states of South Asia. Rather than being struck from engraved dies, Mauryan silver was produced by cutting pieces from standardized silver sheets and impressing them with a series of official punchmarks that authenticated weight and authority. The obverse of this example bears several distinct symbols, including anthropomorphic figures commonly described as “three men,” while the reverse carries a simpler incuse punch. The absence of inscriptions and the use of symbolic punches reflect an early monetary system grounded in weight standards and administrative control rather than named rulers. Referenced as Gupta & Hardaker 586 and preserved in VF condition, this coin illustrates the technological and bureaucratic foundations of early Indian coinage.
