2023-07-28 Fri

The Punch Marked Coins (PMCs), dated between the 6th- 4th century BCE, are considered the earliest coins of the Indian subcontinent. These coins are classified into a) Local Punch Marked Coins comprising of various Janapadas and Mahajanapadas, and b) Imperial Magadha Punch Marked Coins which are attributed to Magadha Empire.

This PMC of Imperial Magadha was sold for Rs. 24,000 in an auction at Mumbai on 15 April 2023. Usually the Imperial PMCs have five punches on obverse; however, on this coin there are five symbols with an additional symbol on the obverse. There are the usual two imperial symbols of sun and a six armed device, large turtle, three circled wheel with four arches, a snake with open mouth, a dotted flower device is the sixth symbol. (G&H 256a Series I).

PMCs are highly sought after by ancient coin collectors worldwide. They are found in different weight standards and belong to various Janapadas stretched across length and breadth of Indian Sub-continent.

Image Courtesy: Todywalla Auctions