India, Magadha Janapada (VI-V sec. a.C.)

[Matteo91]

Nuova aggiunta nella collezione di monete indiane arcaiche. Si tratta di una moneta attribuita al regno di Magadha, predecessore dell'Impero Maurya.

La monetazione di questo regno è stata suddivisa in molteplici "serie", distinguibili dalla combinazione dei 5 simboli che recano. Il testo di riferimento è P. L. Gupta, T.R. Hardaker, Punchmarked Coinage of the Indian Subcontinent: Magadha-Mauryan Series, di cui purtroppo ho solo la versione e-book del 2021.

Ex Leu Web Auction 32, lotto 963

INDIA, Pre-Mauryan (Ganges Valley). Magadha Janapada. 6th-5th century BC. Karshapana (Silver, 27 mm, 3.47 g), first series. Five punches: elephant standing to right, six-armed Magadha imperial symbol, three conjoined fish, taurine in circle, and sun symbol. Rev. Blank. Gupta & Hardaker, Punchmarked Coinage of the Indian Subcontinent, Series I. Rare. Lightly toned. Very fine.

From the collection of Hendrik Hortz, religious studies scholar and journalist, privately acquired from Comptoir des Monnaies on 19 July 2019.

The rare coins from the first series date from the time of the accession of Ajatashatru, the son of King Bimbisara. Ajatashatru was an ambitious warrior king and quickly expanded his realm by conquering his neighbours, laying the foundation of the great Magadhan empire that would control the entire Gangetic basin for the next three centuries.