2017-05-17 Wed

The Magadha Janapada was located in the area of modern day Bihar and its capital was at Rajagriha and then at Pataliputra. The coins issued by Magadha were known as Punch Marked Coins. It is important to note that the 0 to VI Series has a sun and six armed symbols on it. But a sudden change is seen from the VII series where instead of these two symbols we see human figures on coins.

The given Silver Karshapana has three human figures from a single punch on the obverse. While on the reverse there is a peacock standing on five arched hill [G/H Series VII (Var. 590)]

The VII series starts from type 584 to 596(a). But from 584 to 592a we see three human figures on their obverse. Interesting question is that why only three human figure? Do they have any significance with the number three or it was just a matter of symbols?

Explore more Magadha Coins on our website.