Lot 18

Ancient, Archaic Series of Ganga Yamuna Doab area, (450 BC to 400 BC), Silver Vimshatika, 2.00 gms, 13.43 x 14.27 mm, From North-Western parts of Central Uttar Pradesh. Coins of this series are based on Vimashatika weight standard and are quite archaic in fabric. Present coin is half denomination. A most important feature of present coin is that no traces of any official symbol are seen on either sides of this coin. There are only small to medium sized bankers marks on both sides. This feature adds to its archaic nature and clearly indicates that this probably is a representative of the earliest issues of the series. Attribution of these coins has been variously from Malla Janapada to the Pauravas of Kaushambi. Both of these janapadas were much smaller but prominent ruling entities during the times of Buddha. The coin therefore, predates most of the known series of silver punch marked coins and is one of the earliest numismatic issues of the land, Rajgor Series 72, pp. 170, plate 15 (Var. 1122); Mitchiner pp. 810, (Type-a) and Hardaker pp. 110 (Var. PR1), very fine, extremely rare.