2026-11-04 Wed

In continuation with the last article on Saurashtra Janapada, we explore another fascinating example of its archaic silver punch-marked coinage, which reflects the distinctive artistic traditions and symbolic imagery of this ancient region.

Saurashtra, situated in the Kathiawar Peninsula of present-day Gujarat, emerged as an important political and economic region in ancient India. Its strategic geographical position along the Arabian Sea encouraged trade, agriculture and maritime activities. The region developed a distinctive coinage system, with silver punch-marked coins bearing a variety of symbols, animals and geometric motifs. These coins are generally attributed to the Surashtra Janapada, an early territorial polity, and are believed to have circulated during the pre-Mauryan period.

Here, the coin is an extremely fine and rare silver punch-marked issue weighing 0.96 g, attributed to the Saurashtra Janapada.

The obverse features a striking depiction of a blackbuck with long, prominent antlers facing right, placed prominently within a square enclosure. Several ancillary symbols, including taurine motifs and other punch marks, surround the central design. Below the animal is a rectangular tank containing two fishes, an interesting recurring motif found on several varieties of Saurashtra coinage.

The blackbuck, recognised by its distinctive spiral horns and graceful appearance, is an important animal in the Indian natural and cultural landscape. Its representation on this coin demonstrates the use of animal imagery in early Indian numismatic traditions. The rectangular tank containing two fishes is another noteworthy feature, reflecting the characteristic symbolic vocabulary of Saurashtra's early coinage.

The reverse preserves traces of earlier symbols, including a recognisable hare within a crescent. These traces suggest that the coin was struck over an earlier coin or previously marked surface, offering additional evidence of the restriking practices associated with archaic punch-marked coinage.