METAL: SILVER

India developed some of the world's earliest coins sometime around 600BC.

The coins were made by taking a

flat, though often irregularly shaped, piece of silver, cutting it to the proper weight, then applying a series of

punches to the front of it, indicating where and when it was made.

The punches covered a wide variety of

symbols. As the coin circulated, additional punches were sometimes put on the back, verifying the weight and

fineness of the coin.

These coins continued to be issued until about the second century BC.

Ancient coins initially bore only one symbol. Later the number of symbols increased to five. Since the techniqueof punching coins is unique, the coins made are known to numismatists and historians as Punch Mark Coins.

The punch devices of these coins do not have any inscription; instead they have a number of symbols. These run

into several various forms such as geometrical and floral patterns, trees, hills, birds, animals, reptiles, human

figures etc.

The groups of symbols on these coins were confined to specific or limited geographical areas. This

feature helps to distinguish the coins of one area from another.

The reverse side of the coin was impressed with

minute symbols.

Mauryan Punch mark coins 300 - 100 BCE

Issued initially by merchant Guilds and later by States, the coins represented a trade currency belonging to a

period of intensive trade activity and urban development. They are broadly classified into two periods: the first

period (attributed to the Janapadas or small local states) and the second period (attributed to the Imperial Mauryan

period).

The motifs found on these coins were mostly drawn from nature featuring depictions like the sun, various

animal motifs, trees, hills etc… and some were geometrical symbols with the back being mostly blank (see photo)

~~~~~I also have loose Silver Mauryan Punch Mark coins~~~~~