2017-03-02 Thu

You might have seen many Punch Marked coins in round, square and rectangular shape across Indian sub continent. That’s how we assume the shape of coins to be?

We have a coin which is in a Swastika shape! Can you believe this?

And also it’s a base Silver PMC. It has five Punches which includes Sun, six-armed symbol, three arched with a crescent, box enclosing shapes like four fingers of a hand and human standing on a four square box. The reverse has four taurines around a central dot. This is a unique piece. (Catalogued in GH 625,572)

Has anyone ever come across such a masterpiece?
This specimen has been pierced with holes which suggestive as used for suspension, like a pendant. This appears to be a ritualistic item of late Mauryan date as per the catalogue Gupta & Hardaker.

We know how the symbol of Swastika is relevant in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Today we still continue to draw Swastika on various auspicious occasions. The word ‘swastika’ is a Sanskrit word (‘svasktika’) meaning ‘It is’, ‘Well-Being’, ‘Good Existence, and ‘Good Luck’. However, it is also known by different names in different countries - like ‘Wan’ in China, ‘Manji’ in Japan, ‘Fylfot’ in England, ‘Hakenkreuz’ in Germany and ‘Tetraskelion’ or ‘Tetragammadion’ in Greece.

We find Swastika symbol on various Indian coins and on Ancient Greek coins also!