Archaic Silver Punch Marked, Saurashtra region, attributed to Surashtra Janapada, 1/4 Karshapana, 0.78g, “Temple” type, Obv: A building with an arched entrance and three finials on a curved roof, enclosed in a railing. Rev: Traces of a symbol (Listed in Van't Haaf but not listed in Rajgor). Very fine, exceedingly rare.
This is probably the earliest depiction of a sacred sanctuary or temple (Devāyatana) on an Indian coin. Comparable images of Devayatanas are seen in Buddhist art such as relief panels from Sanchi. Chief architectural features of the building - such an elongated and most likely apsidal body, a small door, a semicircular roof which was perhaps vaulted and the finials on top are all very clearly visible here. This coin has been on loan to the CSMVS museum for some time, displayed in its ‘House of Lakshmi’ gallery (now out of commission).