Punch Marked, The silver punch-marked Janapadas coins issued by various Janapadas during the times of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira are India’s earliest coins ever. The term ‘Janapada’ refers to Indian kingdoms that existed between the sixth and third centuries BC. Although the names of one hundred and seventy five Janapadas are listed in ‘Bhuvankosha’ chapters of the Puranas, Buddhist texts like Anguttara Nikaya make frequent references to sixteen great kingdoms and republics (Solas Mahajanapadas) which had evolved and flourished in a belt stretching from Gandhara in the northwest to Anga in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent and included parts of the trans-Vindhyan region; prior to the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in India. These Janapadas rose to prominence in around 600 BC and except for Magadha, which subdued them all, retained their independence for very brief periods only. Most of the Janapadas never issued coins. Only a handful of Janapadas, major ones listed in Anguttara Nikaya (as sodasa mahajanapadas or 16 great kingdoms) of the times of Buddha (Jain literature also lists Mahajanpadas with little change of names and some references in the Puranas also); were prominent enough to have issued punch-marked coins, also known as local type PMCs, because their find-spots are generally restricted to the geographical area of the respective Janapada and also due to which factor, most of this series is extremely rare. This is a collection of historical importance, a great opportunity to acquire the set of 13 Mahajanpadas out of all the 16 Mahajanpadas, (as listed in Anguttara Nikaya) only 3 Mahajanpadas Vatsa, Matsya & Panchala coins are missing rest all 13 Janapads coins are on offer as a single lot. Exceedingly rare.
A) Attributed to Gandhara Janpada, 600-300 BC, Silver, Shatamana Bent Bar, 11.38g, Unifaced, long bar, six armed symbol at each end of the bar on obverse (Rajgor Series 34). Very fine, scarce.
Gandhara extended from Kabul in Afghanistan to Peshawar in Pakistan, with capital at Taxila. It was a very janapada, finding multiple references in Mahabharata. Gandhari, the mother of Kauravas was a princess of Gandhara. Its territories included east Afghanistan and north-west of the Punjab (modern districts of Peshawar and Rawalpindi)
B) Attributed to Vajji Janapada, 575-450 BC, Silver Double Karshapna, 6.75g, Unifaced, Scyphate Type, single symbol with two-crescent like symbols in the centre with ancillary symbols around on obverse (Rajgor Series 33). Extremely fine, rare.
Vajjis were the most important republic of Buddhist era, situated in modern Vaishali-Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar. Their references are replete in numerous chronicles. The Vajjis or Vrijjis included eight confederated clans of whom the Licchhavis were the most important. The mother of Bhagwan Mahavira was a Licchavi princess. Vaishali (modern Basarh in the Vaishali District of North Bihar) was their capital. The Second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali.
C) Attributed to Magadha Janapada, 600-200 BC, Silver Karshapana, 3.27g, G/H Series I, Obv: Five symbol type including sun, six armed, leaf, bold Taurine and geometric, Rev: Bankers mark (Rajgor Series 13). Very fine, scarce.
Magadha was one of the most prominent and prosperous of mahajanpadas. Profusely referred to in Rig Veda, Atharva Veda, Mahabharata, Puranas and Buddhist & Jain literature of the time, its territories corresponded to the modern districts of Patna and Gaya in southern Bihar and parts of Bengal in the east. The capital city of Pataliputra (Patna). Its earliest capital was Girivraja or Rajagriha (modern Rajgir). It was an active center of Jainism in times. The first Buddhist Council was held in Rajagriha in the Vaibhara Hills.
D) Attributed to Kashi Janapada, 600-565 BC, Silver Vimshatika, 4.66g, Obv: Four geometric symbol in ABCC patterns with several bankers marks, Rev: Bankers mark (Rajgor Series 55). Very fine, very rare.
Kashi Janapada (with capital at Varanasi) comprised of modern day Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur & Mirzapur districts of eastern U.P. It was one of the most important janapadas of India. Engaged in incessant battles with neighboring Kosala, it lost its independence rather early (at the hands of Ajatshatru of Magadha, who was a contemporary of Buddha). A short-lived independence makes its coinage extremely rare.
E) Attributed to Chedi Janapada, 500-400 BC, Silver Karshapana, 3.17g, Bargama Hoard type, Obv: Various bankers mark including Taurine and others, Rev: Traces of main symbol elephant, crescent and twice geometric symbol. Extremely fine, very rare.
Chedi Situated to the south of Vatsa (separated by Yamuna river), it was west of Kashi, east of Avanti and south-east of Shurasena and Matsya janapadas (modern Bundelkhand area of UP and north MP areas). It is earlier capital was Shuktimati (later shifted to Tripuri). Its references are found in Chetiya Jataka and Janavasabha Sutta.
F) Attributed to Kosala Janapada, 525-465 BC, Silver Karshapana, 2.61g, Four symbol type, Obv: English word like ‘S’, Taurine in box, open circle below crescent and geometric symbol, Rev: Bankers mark (Rajgor Series 65). Extremely fine, rare.
Kosala was one of the strongest mahajanapadas of India. Its earliest capital was Ayodhya and then Shravasti. It finds numerous references in Ramayan, Mahabharata and Jataka tales. In around 525 BC, its king Kamsa annexed Kashi and was titled Baranasiggaho (seizer of Banaras). It is another famous King; Prasenjit was a contemporary of Buddha. The country of Kosalas was located to the north-west of Magadha with its capital at Savatthi (Sravasti). It was located about 60 miles north of modern Ayodhya at the border of Gonda and Behraich districts in the Sahet-Mahet region. Its territory corresponding to the modern Awadh i.e Central and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
G) Attributed to Kamboja Janapada, 500-400 BC, Silver 1/4 Shatamana, 2.38g. Uniface with minute symbols. Very fine, exceedingly rare.
Such coins are found only In the Swat valley of Pakistan.
Kamboja is known to have comprised regions on either side of the Hindukush. The cis-Hindukush region from Nurestan up to Rajauri in southwest of Kashmir sharing borders with the Daradas and the Gandharas constituted the Kamboja country. The capital of Kamboja was probably Rajapura (modern Rajori) in the south-west of Kashmir.
H) Attributed to Anga Janapada, 550-500 BC, Copper Vimashatika, 11.58g, Various main symbol and bankers mark on both side. Very fine, very rare.
Anga was an important janapada of pre-Buddhist era, situated in modern Bhagalpur-Munger districts of Bihar. One of the earliest janapadas to lose independence at the hands of Bimbisara of Magadha, with whom it shared boundary, demarcated by Champa (modern Chandan) river. Mentioned in Vinayak Pitaka and Mahabharata (Duryodhana made Karna, the king of Anga).
I) Attributed to Ashmaka Janapada, 500-350 BC, Silver 1/2 Karshapana, 1.54g, Uniface, four symbol series of ABCC type with an Elephant facing left, two punches of four fishes in a circular shape and a tree on obverse (Rajgor Series 26). Extremely fine, rare.
Located in present day districts of Nasik, Dhule, Jalgaon and Aurangabad of N. Maharashtra; Ashmak finds mention in Mahabharata, Vayu Purana and Asska Jataka, Chulla Kalinga Jataka and Mahagovinda Suttanta etc. It was founded by Ikshavaku dynasty and Mulka was its another name.
J) Attributed to Kuru/ Pauravas Janapada, 450-335 BC, Silver 1/2 Vimashatika, 2.10g, Two symbols type, AB pattern, one of the rarest series having second official symbol, which could be same or different from the main symbol but always smaller in the size (This feature is shared by only the Mallas of Kushinagar & by the Vajjis in some recorded cases, both these Janpadas being contemporary to Lord Buddha) (Mitchiner M, Trade and Early Coinages Vol. I pp. 810-813). Extremely fine, extremely rare.
The Puranas trace the origin of Kurus from the Puru-Bharata family. Aitareya Brahmana locates the Kurus in Madhyadesha. Their area roughly corresponded to the modern Thanesar, Delhi and Meerut district of U.P.
K) Attributed to Malla Janapada, 550-320 BC, Silver 1 1/2 Shana, 1.96g, Scyphate Type, Obv: Treskelis symbol in centre, Rev: Traces of other symbol (Rajgor Series 72). Extremely fine, extremely rare.
Mallas were a tribe of Buddha’s times, having two branches (capitals at Pava and Kushinara, referred by Panini as ‘Mallagramah’); situated to the west of Videha and to northwest of Magadha (modern Deoria and Gorakhpur districts of U.P.). Kusinâra and Pava are very important in the history of Buddhism and Jainism.
L) Attributed to Shurasena Janapada, 400-350 BC, Silver 1/2 Karshapana, 1.71g, Uniface, lion above fish on obverse (Rajgor Series 76). Very fine, rare.
The country of the Surasenas lay to the east of Matsya and west of Yamuna. This corresponds roughly to the Brij region of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, and Gwalior region of Madhya Pradesh. It had its capital at Mathura.
M) Attributed to Avanti Janapada, 500-400 BC, Silver 1/2 Karshapana, 1.31g, Uniface, four Taurine with circle (partly visible) on obverse (Rajgor Series 23). Very fine, rare.
It was among the most prominent mahajanapadas of Buddha’s times. Located in modern day Malwa, Nimar and adjoining parts in M.P. with capital at Ujjaini. Profusely reffered in Mahabharata, the Matsya Purana, Majjhima Nikaya and other Buddhist chronicles. Its famous king Pradyota was a contemporary of Bimbisara, Ajatshatru, Prasenjit and the Lord Buddha himself.
Very fine to very fine+, extremely rare. 13 coins.