INDIA, Pre-Mauyran (Ganges Valley). Magadha Janapada. 6th-5th century BC. Karshapana (Silver, 26.5x31.5 mm, 3.27 g), Series I, attributed to the kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. Five official punches: six-armed Magadha imperial symbol, sun symbol, leaf, and 2 geometric symbols. Rev. Bow and arrow punch together with other punches. Gupta & Hardaker, Punchmarked Coinage of the Indian Subcontinent, series I, 67. Rare. Very fine.

Gupta and Hardaker attribute Series I coins to the kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, who were contemporaries of the Buddha. It is worth noting that our coin shows six official symbols instead of the usual five. However, this is a mint error as the official bow and arrow punch were supposed be part of the obverse instead of the reverse. Such minting errors are extremely rare, as the Magadha mints maintained strict quality control