INDIA, Pre-Mauyran (Ganges Valley). Magadha Janapada. 6th-5th century BC. 25 Mashas (Silver, 26 mm, 5.46 g). Five official punches: central 6-armed Magadha imperial symbol, sun symbol, crescent, and ladle (twice). Rev. Blank. GH (2nd ed.) 0.10 var. (four punches). Extremely rare and apparently unpublished with five punches. A curious and interesting mint error. About extremely fine.


This coin belongs to the earliest and extremely rare pre-karshapana issues of Magadha, which were not covered in Gupta and Hardaker's seminal work on Magadha-Maurya punchmarked coinage, although they have been included in the second edition, published in 2014. The denomination of 25 mashas weighed approximately 5.45 g, considerably heavier than the later karshapanas of circa 3.5 g.