Imperial Magadha

Late Dynasties

Karshapana

摩揭陀帝國

晚期諸王朝

嘎夏巴涅

Item number: A1573

Year: 232-100 BC

Material: Silver

Size: 14.5 x 10.1 x 2.4 mm

Weight: 3.4 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2015

This is a Karshapana, a type of punch-marked coin that likely originates from the late kingdoms of Magadha, such as the Maurya and Shunga dynasties. In Hindi, the term “Karsha” refers to its standardised weight (though not strictly), where 1 “Karsha” is approximately 54 grains (3.50 grams), and “pana” is a general term for coin.

Karshapana coins were made from materials including gold, silver, and copper, with the silver coins primarily composed of silver mixed with metals such as copper, tin, and lead. The shapes of these coins were often irregular, either rectangular or circular. Generally, earlier Karshapanas tended to be closer to a circular form, whereas later ones became more rectangular, which may be related to the advancement in the techniques of minting and metal smelting. The number of motifs on these coins ranged from one to six, and the subjects of these motifs included the sun, moon, landscapes, animals, human figures, and abstract geometric shapes. These symbols might have religious significance, could represent rulers, or serve to denote denominations, with scholars differing in opinion. Only the Karshapanas from the reign of Ashoka (Maurya Dynasty) clearly reflect Buddhist motifs, such as the Buddha and the Bodhi tree. Karshapanas were widely circulated throughout the Indian subcontinent, with the earliest known examples dating back to the BC 6th century, though their actual use might predate this. Minting of these coins likely ceased around the 1st century BC, when they were replaced by Greek-influenced circular coins.

The obverse of this silver coin features five motifs. The most distinguishable symbols include the sun wheel at the bottom left and the six-armed symbol at the top left. The motif in the centre-right may represent part of an animal, while the motifs at the centre-left and bottom-right are difficult to identify. The sun wheel motif has been a consistent feature throughout the history of the Karshapana, persisting from at least the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC, with its frequency gradually decreasing after the reign of Ashoka in the Maurya Dynasty. Another motif that has been commonly present is the six-armed symbol at the top left. Although this symbol appears in many variations, the differences are minor, and scholars have offered a wide range of interpretations regarding its meaning.

The reverse of the coin bears two shallower impressions, which are security features added by the rulers of Magadha during the period of increasing central administrative power. These shallower impressions were designed to prevent local goldsmiths or coin merchants from intentionally wearing down the coins to profit from the difference between the value of the precious metals and the coin’s denomination. The origin of this impression could be from the reverse die or simply be a scratch.

The side of the coin is well-defined, suggesting that its history as a circulating currency may not be long. It is possible that it was long stored as a donation received by a local religious organisation.

To study ancient Indian history before the Anno Domini, one must turn to texts such as the Vedas, Puranas, and various Buddhist scriptures, as historical facts are often intertwined with religious mythology, making dating challenging. However, through a thorough review of the literature, it is generally accepted that the history of Magadha dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was one of the sixteen major kingdoms of the Mahajanapada period in the Indus-Ganga Plain. Following the expansion of successive dynasties such as Haryanka, Shishunaga, Nanda, and Maurya, Magadha eventually unified most of present-day India. After the reign of Ashoka, the empire weakened, and the territory once controlled by the empire was divided among several smaller kingdoms.

物件編號: A1572

年代: 公元前 232-100 年

材質:

尺寸: 14.5 x 10.1 x 2.4 mm

重量: 3.4 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2015

這是一枚可能來自摩揭陀(Magadha)晚期王朝,如孔雀(Maurya)王朝、巽伽(Shunga)王朝等的嘎夏巴涅(Karshapana),或稱為壓印錢幣(Punch-marked coin)。在印地文中,「Karsha」是來自其標準化後的重量(雖然並不嚴格),1個「Karsha」可能約重54格令(3.50克),「pana」則是硬幣的通稱。

嘎夏巴涅的材質有金、銀、銅幣等,銀幣的材質則以銀為主,摻有銅、錫、鉛等金屬。嘎夏巴涅的形制多為不規整的矩形與圓形,平均而言,愈早期的嘎夏巴涅愈可能接近圓形,相反的,愈晚期的嘎夏巴涅愈可能接近矩形,這可能與壓印與熔煉金屬的技術發展有關。硬幣上的圖樣數目,從一個到六個都曾出現過,圖樣的題材有日月山川、動物、人類、抽象幾何圖形等等,可能具有宗教的意涵,或是代表了權力者,抑或是標示了面額,學者們莫衷一是。只有阿育王時代的嘎夏巴涅具有較明顯的佛教意涵,如佛陀、菩提樹等符號。嘎夏巴涅在整個印度次大陸上的使用十分廣泛,當代出土的嘎夏巴涅最早可以追溯到公元前6世紀,實際的使用可能更遠早於此,最晚大約在1世紀左右停止鑄造,被希臘化的制式圓形硬幣所取代。

該銀幣的正面為五個圖案,可以較明顯辨認出的圖樣有左下的日輪、左上的六臂符號,右中的圖樣可能是某種動物的一部分,左中與右下的圖樣難以辨識。日輪圖樣基本上貫穿了嘎夏巴涅的使用歷史,至少從公元前6世紀,到公元前1世紀都長期存在,在孔雀王朝的阿育王時代後,出現的頻率才逐漸減少。另一個也長期普遍存在的是左上的六臂符號,形式很多,但大同小異,學者對於其相關的意義眾說紛紜。

該銀幣的背面有兩個比正面略淺的印跡,這是摩揭陀諸王朝,在中央的行政權力逐漸加強的時期,為流通的銀幣加上的防偽標誌。較淺的印跡可以防止地方的金銀匠或貨幣商人透過故意磨損銀幣,而賺取貴金屬與銀幣面額的差價。印跡的來源可能是來自正面圖樣的模具,或是單純的刻痕。

銀幣側面規整,可以看出做為貨幣流通的歷史可能不算長,也許是作為地方宗教組織收納的供品被長期儲存。

欲研究公元前的古印度歷史,只得求助於《吠陀經》、《往事書》、各類佛經等文集,史實往往與宗教神話雜揉糾纏,定年也多有出入,為還原古印度的歷史增添了困難。但遍尋文獻,仍可大略可知,摩揭陀的歷史可以追溯到公元前6世紀,彼時摩揭陀只是列國時代,位於印度河-恆河平原的十六大國之一,後經訶黎(Haryanka) 、幼龍(Shaishunaga)、難陀(Nanda)、孔雀(Maurya)等王朝的不斷擴張,統一了今日印度的大部分地區。在阿育王的統治之後,帝國衰弱,原帝國疆域為諸多王國所取代。

類似/相同物件 請看:

英國 菲茨威廉博物館 Fitzwilliam Museum

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/180052

美國 克利夫蘭藝術博物館 The Cleveland Museum of Art

https://www.clevelandart.org/print/art/1967.242

更多相關訊息請參考:

Gupta, P. L. & Hardaker, T. R. Punchmarked Coinage of the Indian Subcontinent – Magadha-Mauryan Series. Mumbai: IIRNS Publications LLP. 2021.

Sharma, Savita. Imperial Punch- Marked Coin of Ancient India A Case Study of Sarai Dangri Hoard, Varanasi. Dehli: Aryan books international. 2016.

Hardaker, D. “Coins Of Antiquity: The Role Of Punch-marked Coins In The Trade And Development Of Ancient Indi.” SADI Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, Vol.09, No.3 (2022), pp. 31-41.

Tye, Robert. “Late Indian Punchmarked Coins in the Mir Zakah II Hoard.” The Numismatic Chronicle. Vol. 166 (2006), pp. 167-171.

Errington, Elizabeth. “A Survey of Late Hoards of Indian Punch-marked Coins.” The Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. 163 (2003), pp. 69-121.

Allchin, F. R. “Upon the Contextual Significance of Certain Groups of Ancient Indian Signs.” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London ,Vol. 22, No. 1/3 (1959), pp. 548-555.

Walsh, E. H. C. “Notes on the Silver Punch-Marked Coins, and the Copper Punch-Marked Coins, in the British Museum.” The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, No. 3 (Jul., 1941), pp. 223-232.

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