2021-07-09 Fri

Saurashtra was the Mahajanapada during the ancient period in India. Today it is located in modern-day Saurashtra or the Kathaiwad peninsula in Gujarat. Saurashtra is also known as the United States of Khiawar, existed between 1948 and 1956 on the Saurashtra alias Kathiawar peninsula with Rajkot as its capital.

We can find the reference of the Saurashtra in Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Ramayana, the name ‘Saurashtra’ is applied to the country from Sind to Bharuch (Today’s Kutch). Dwarka, the city from where Lord Krishna ruled, is located in Northern Saurashtra.

This silver punch-marked coin weighs around 0.96g, issued from Saurashtra Janapada during the ancient period in India. The obverse of this coin depicts Tiger walking to left in the centre, square dot below; triskeles, taurines & annulets around.

Image Courtesy: Classical Numismatic Gallery