India Pre-Mauryan silver punch-marked karshapana, 6th–4th c. BC, 3.40 g

Uncertain Indian authority, punch-marked coin, silver, 6th–4th century BC, 3.40 g, 20 mm. Mint uncertain. Obverse: anepigraphic; field with several distinct punches, including geometric and abstract devices arranged irregularly. Reverse: anepigraphic; single composite punch consisting of a crescented bar between pellets; remainder plain. Punch-struck on a cut rectangular flan with trimmed edges; deep, well-impressed symbols; fabric of the pre‑Mauryan series. References: unattributed type; for the class see Gupta & Hardaker, Indian Silver Punch-marked Coins (1985); Rajgor, Punch-Marked Coins of India (2001); Mitchiner, Ancient and Classical World of Coins, India.

These pre‑Mauryan punch‑marked silver coins are among the earliest coinages of South Asia, produced by punching symbols into standard-weight silver pieces rather than striking with dies. Their weights conform closely to the 32‑ratti (c. 3.4 g) karshapana standard and they circulated widely among the northern Indian mahajanapadas before the monetary reforms of the Mauryan state in the late 4th century BC. Multiple punches may represent issuing authorities, officials, or quality controls within a decentralized monetary system.