Ancient ; Shakya Janapada ; Early Series Coin ; Silver 5 Shana ; Main Symbol – central pentagon symbol Attributed to Shakya Janapada (c. 600-500 BC) ; Ex RARE Silver Double Karshapana

Description

Ancient ; Shakya Janapada ; Early Series Coin ; Silver 5 Shana ; Main Symbol – central pentagon symbol ; Weight : 6.47 Grams ; Attributed to Shakya Janapada (c. 600-500 BC) ; Ex RARE Silver Double Karshapana ; Single Bold punch in the centre ; No Bankers Mark places it as highly collectable ;

Historical Note : Perhaps some of the earliest known coins from India, these crude punch-marked coins were first found in the town of Narhan in modern-day Uttar Pradesh. The Shakya janapada (also called Vajji or Lichchavi janapada) was located on the Indo-Nepal border north of the modern town of Gorakhpur. Its capital was Kapilavastu. The birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini, was ten miles east of Kapilavastu. The Buddha’s father, Suddhodhana, was, according to Rajgor, the elected president of the Shakyas. Some of these coins may well have been minted during the time of the Buddha’s life.
The coins were probably made from thick sheets of silver, which were then cut down to size to attain the proper weight. Then a central punch was applied, rendering the coin somewhat scyphate in shape. Many of the coins bear a central pentagonal symbol, while others carry other geometric symbols. Some of the coins also carry additional punches around the central symbol. In all probability, these were banker’s marks. Punch Mark Coins with single imperial symbol is hard to get .