Rare type AR drachm of Mahapadma Nanda and his 8 sons (ca.345-320 BC), Magadha

Description

Many punch-mark symbols / Blank (traces of the undertype visible). Irregular silver plachet (17x14mm, 3.1g), overstruck on an older type. Scarce. Gupta/Hardaker ISPC series ?.These silver coins with various punchmarks are the earliest silver Indian ha was an ancient kingdomof India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It wasalso one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of Buddha,having risen to power during the reigns of Bimbisara (c. 544-491 BCE)and his son Ajatashatru (c. 491-460 BCE). The core of the kingdom wasthat portion of Bihar lying south of the Ganges, with its capital atRajagriha (modern Rajgir). Magadha expanded to include most of Biharand parts of Bengal with the conquest of Anga, and then expanded up theGanges valley annexing Kosala and Kashi. Magadha formed one of thesixteen so-called Mahajanapadas (Sanskrit, 'great country'). TheMagadha empire included republican communities such as ges had their own assemblies under their local chiefs calledGramakas. Their administrations were divided into executive, judicial,and military functions. Bimbisara was friendly to both Jainism andBuddhism and suspended tolls at the river ferries for all asceticsafter the Buddha was once stoppedat the Ganges River for lack of money.