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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,241 |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Another coin from the trade. This is a rare example of an AR Drachm of Ashoka the Great 272-232 BC from the Mauryan Empire. the coin is 18x13mm and 2.84 grams. Difficult to see in the picture but there are five punch marks. Sun, three armed symbol,three arched hill,Askokas symbol, and a warrior with spear and small shield. Reference is Mitchiner ACW4178 Gupta/Hardaker ISPC566.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
oh cool, I took a shot at one of those this weekend, but didn't get it.
glad you got yours! all those symbols on those are very neat.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
This is a very cool coin, and quite rare. My favorite is the Warrior punch mark. Rarely do the punch marks depict a person. I believe these are considered "stage II" early karashapanas.
For the record, these coins are not always called drachms, they are more accurately called "Karashapans." Fractions of which are 1/2 Karshapana and the like.
Ashoka the Great- originally a ruthless emperor who wiped out the Kangra Empire. Upon seeing the death toll from the conquest he was ridden with guilt and sought absolution from the teaching of the Buddha. He would then spread the word of the Buddha and build numerous monuments covering his edicts on the teachings of Buddhism. He spent the rest of his life dedicated to Buddhism and elevation of society's standard of living. He would go down in history as a intelligent and Pius ruler who would expand Mauryan homogamy over much of what is modern India, south to Dacca, east to Bengal and west as far as Eastern Pakistan.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Ski I would read about the mint that this coin was made at. It would eventually become the capital of the Western Satraps!!
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Thanks Nate, I see that I'm going to have to do a lot of reading now that I've started to collect these coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Thats an understatement. I am just about ready to pick up my a copy of the Western Satraps book. The reverse script of those coins is quite impressive. There are instances of letters being recessed, upside down or laying on their side. Truly fascinating "dated" coinage.
The situation with the Mauryan and pre-Mauryan punch mark coins is far more complicated. These coins were circulated in several types with an unknown of number of official,tribal,local and institutional punch marks over large expanse of time. The one source that I was referred to on these coins is actually quite inaccurate and dated. Often the coins are listed as "Indian Punch Mark coins" but in fact them come in many many many many variations issued by several different kingdoms over a period of lets say 400 years. A few of the coins, like your OP can be attributed to an exact ruler! The symbol with the 3 ovals and line through it Ashoka's Personal Tamgha. WOW!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
Yeah, I still don't know which way is up with this one. Guess I have some reading on the horizon too.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I don't believe orientation matters in the case of these coins. It seems that the punch marks were struck at different angels. All I know is the the front is the Side with 4 of the punch marks and the reverse is blank or has the 5th mark.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Personally I like it in this orientation. You can see the Rare Warrior punchmark protruding from the "point" on the obverse of this specimen. Its Rare to have the warrior, its rare to have the warrior visible and its rare to have the warrior on with this ruler. I suppose that would make this coin triply rare!
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
It does look better that way. I have a hard time seeing all the figures my eyes aren't that good anymore.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Some call these punchmarked coins 'drachms', but
They are more commonly called 'karshapana', or 'pana' for short.
The ones pictured here are very good examples of the general type.
They are comparatively easy to obtain, considering their metal (silver), and antiquity, and can be had for around $20 to $30.
If much more definitive research is done on these, collector demand for them will surely increase.
Mitchener is a pioneer in the research of these. To place copies of his works on your bookshelf will cost you quite a bit of money.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2895 Posts |
Quote:
Mitchener is a pioneer in the research of these. To place copies of his works on your bookshelf will cost you quite a bit of money This is unfortunately true. I have a good number of books - they are impressive in size and detail - but unfortunately not "the ancient and classicial world" which seems to go for £700+ on the second hand market. I'm not sure if they will be reprinted - some of the thinking for some sections has moved on from their publication or the work has been superceeded generally with more up-to-date specalist publications, but irrespective of that they are very worthy reference works to have. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I think you could buy an EF coin of each and every Indian Punchmark ruler for 700 GBP. To me that rules out buying the reference.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2895 Posts |
The ancient and classical world reference covers much much much more than Indian punchmarks - as I recall they take up very little coverage - generally speaking, you probably couldn't buy a EF coin of one page never mind the entire volume for £700
Edited by Bacchus2
07/09/2013 11:38 am
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
India has such a vast history that up until not I paid little attention too. I see now where they were more powerful than the Roman Republic at that time.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,241 |
Posted 07/08/2013 09:41 am
