The Magadha janapada was located roughly in the area of the modern state of Bihar, with its capital originally at Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) and then at Pataliputra (modern Patna). It was to become the largest of the original 16 janapadas, eventually spawning India’s first empire, the Mauryan empire.

Prior to the Mauryas, the accepted chronology of Magadha’s kings is as follows:
Haryanaka dynasty
Bimbisara (545-493 BCE)
Ajatashatru (493-461 BCE)
Udayabhadra (461-445 BCE)
Aniriddha & Munda (445-437 BCE)
Nagadaska (437-413 BCE)
Shishunaga dynasty
Shishunaga (413-395 BCE)
Kalashoka (395-367 BCE)
Sons of Kalashoka (367-345 BCE)
Nanda dynasty
Mahapadma Nanda (345- ? BCE)
Sons of Mahapadma Nanda ( ? – 323 BCE)

Magadha’s earliest coins were dumpy silver 35-mashaka pieces of roughly 7.6 gm. that featured a single “6-arm symbol” punch. They seem to have been soon superceded by 25-mashaka pieces of roughly 5.5 gm. on thinner, more spread flans, but with the same 6-arm symbol punch. The next stage retained the same flan type and the same 6-arm punch in the center, but three additional punches were added around the central punch. These are the first coins shown in the table below. Perhaps this group was issued by the Haryankas. This period included the time during which the Buddha came to Magadha, where he attained enlightenment in the Magadhan city of Gaya, and where he preached for most of the remainder of his lifetime. The Magadhan king Bimbisara offered his throne to the Buddha, but was turned down.

Around 420 BCE, perhaps with the ascension of Shishunaga, the 25-mashaka denomination was abandoned and replaced by a karshapana standard of roughly 3.5 gm. At first, the karshpanas continued to feature four punches, but quite soon this was changed to a five punch design. Two of the punches were consistently a solar disc and a variety of the 6-arm symbol. The three remaining punches varied. Over time, the size of the flans shrank and the coins became thicker, probably to make it more difficult for merchants to add “banker’s marks” that tended to obliterate the original designs of the coins. At some stage, the Mauryans came to power, and they continued the 5-punch karshapana series.

Showing 1–100 of 124 results

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana

1,500.00 ANCT_3_1901/25

Ancient ; Scarce Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, Magadha Imperial, Silver Karshapana,

3,000.00 ANCT_4_1901/25

Ancient ; Scarce Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, Magadha Imperial, Silver Karshapana,

2,800.00 ANCT_1_0901/25

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana

1,500.00 ANCT_6_0901/25

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana ;

2,500.00 ANCT824/24

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana ;

2,300.00 ANCT828/24

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana ;

2,500.00 ANCT827/24

Ancient ; Scarce Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, Magadha Imperial, Silver Karshapana,

3,000.00 ANCT833/24

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana

2,600.00 ANCT839/24

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana

2,300.00 ANCT841/24

Ancient ; Scarce Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, Magadha Imperial, Silver Karshapana,

3,000.00 ANCT858/24

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana

2,000.00 ANCT856/24

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana

2,000.00 ANCT857/24

Ancient ; Imperial Magadhan ; Very Rare Silver Punch-marked Karshapana (c.400-350 BC), GH series I

8,000.00 ANCT872/24

Ancient ; Imperial Magadhan ; Very Rare Silver Punch-marked Karshapana (c.400-350 BC), GH series I

8,500.00 ANCT870/24

Ancient ; Imperial Magadhan ; Very Rare Silver Punch-marked Karshapana (c.400-350 BC), GH series I

10,000.00 ANCT871/24

Ancient ; Imperial Magadhan ; Very Rare Silver Punch-marked Karshapana (c.400-350 BC), GH series I ;

12,000.00 ANCT869/24

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ;attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE Silver Karshapana ;

2,600.00

Magadha-Mauryan Series, (3rd Cen. BC), Copper Punch-Marked Unit, with punches showing sun, 6-arched symbol, three arched hill,

400.00 ANCT639/24

Ancient : Punch Marked, Attributed to Magadha Janpada, Series 0 , Silver Vimshatika

26,000.00 ANCT512/23

Ancient ; Punch Marked Coinage ; Silver PMC from lower Middle Ganga Valley Magadha Mahajanapada Series 0/1 Transition Dumraon hoard type Silver Karshapana Standard ; 5th Century BC

12,500.00

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; Magadha Imperial ; Silver Karshapana ;

2,300.00

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana

1,700.00

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, Magadha Imperial, Silver Karshapana,

2,000.00 ANCT42/23

Ancient: Imperial Magadha, Punch-mark coinage, Silver Karshapana, Series IV

1,500.00 ANCT41/23

Ancient : Punch-marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada, Silver Karshapana , Series I,

2,100.00 ANCT40/23

Ancient : Punch-marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Series I ;

1,500.00

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ;** RARE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana ;

4,500.00 ANCT371/22

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; RARE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana

4,600.00 ANCT369/22

Ancient : Silver PMC from lower Middle Ganga Valley Magadha Mahajanapada Series 0/1 Transition Dumraon hoard type Silver Karshapana Standard ; 5th Century BC

12,000.00 ANCT364/22

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin, Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Karshapana, Series I,

4,600.00 ANCT354/22

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Weight : 3.53 Grams

1,600.00

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Weight : 3.21 Grams

1,800.00

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Weight : 3.53 Grams

2,000.00 ANCT18/23

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; SCARCE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient : Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ;

ANCT625/23

Ancient; Punch Marked Coin ; Series 0 ( Zero ) ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC) ; Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ;

Ancient; Punch Marked Coin ; Series 0 ( Zero ) ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC) ; Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ;

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Karshapana ; Series I ;

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver 1/2 Vimshatika ; Archaic period ; Series 0

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver 1/8 Vimshatika ; Series 0

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada ; (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ; Series 0 ;

Ancient; Punch Marked Coin ; Series 0 ( Zero ) ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ;

ANCT585/23

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada(600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; GH Series 0 ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; RARE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada(600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ;

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada(600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; Magadha Imperial ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; RARE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana ; RARE

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient; Punch Marked Coin ; Series 0 ( Zero ) ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ;

Ancient; Punch Marked Coin ; Series 0 ( Zero ) ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ;

Ancient; Punch Marked Coin ; Series 0 ( Zero ) ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; RARE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient; Punch Marked Coin ; Series 0 ( Zero ) ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; Magadha Imperial ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; RARE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; Magadha Imperial ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ; Series 0 ( Zero )

Ancient : Punch Marked Coin ; Magadha Janapada (600-350 BC), Silver Vimshatika ; Archaic period ; Series 0,

Ancient ; Punch-marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; 3.42g, Series I,

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Weight : 3.36 Grams

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; RARE LARGE FLAN Silver Karshapana ; Weight : 3.36 Grams RARE

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Series 1

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Series 1

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Series 1

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; Magadha Imperial ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; Magadha Imperial ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ; Note : Crocodile eating fish symbol.

Ancient ; Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage, attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage ; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; Archaic Punch Marked Coinage; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;

Ancient ; RARE Archaic Punch Marked Coinage; Magadha Imperial; Silver Karshapana;

Archaic Punch Marked Coinage; attributed to Magadha Janapada ; Silver Karshapana ;