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Lord Mahavira and His Times
a number of symbols on their thin flans. Some are of the shape of a bent bar.
The punchmarked coins are usually found in silver and copper Silver pieces are more numerous than the copper ones. Gold Kārshapanas may also have been issued like the silver and copper ones. Their non-discovery is not a decisive argument against their existence.
The vast majority of the silver punchmarked coins follow the standard of 16 mäshakas of 32 ratis. The average weight of well-preserved punchmarked coins is approximately 56 grains. In ancient Kośala, we have found a number of punchmarked coins weighing only about 42 to 43 grains. It is, therefore, clear that ancient Kośala was following lighterweight standard of 12 māshakas or about 42 grains. The province of Gandhāra was issuing silver punchmarked coins known at present as Bent-bar coins and probably called Ayatākāra Karshapanas in ancient times. The largest denomi nation coins of this series weigh about 175 grains. This weight is equal to that of 100 ratis or double sigloi of the Achaemenian standard.
Dvi-Kärshāpaņas of this weight standard are also found. Large Kośala coins, which weigh about 79 or 80 grains, are most probably dvi-Karshāpaņa pieces of the 12 māshaka standard. Ardha-Karshapanas are frequently referred to in the Tripitakas, the Jātakas, and in the grammatical works. Quarter Karshāpaņas were often known as pādas. The chaturmashaka, Trimashaka, Dvi-mashaka, Eka-mashaka, Ardha-mashaka, and Kakaạikā were also known. To carry on daily transactions, currency of small denominations was also issued. THE SYMBOLS ON THE PUNCHMARKED COINS
The reverse marks on thc carlier coins occur haphazardly. Usually, the more worn out a coin is the larger is the number of its reverse marks. The principal marks on the obverse appeared not haphazardly, but thcy had a desinitc significance. Thc most common symbols are the Sun and six arms. It is quite possible that this Sun symbol had a myo thological significance, Solar dynastics were ruling at Ayolhyā and in Videha. It is, therefore, not improbable that the Sun
