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Vedic Coins discovered in Maharashtra
The Pradyota kings of Avanti had a large kingdom covering central and western India. It was prosperous nation due to the commerce with Mesopotamia through a sea port at Bharoch (modern Gujrath). Shown below is a beautiful example of one of the earliest coins of India minted by Ashmaka kingdom in southern India or Deccan. This coin which is considered as double Karshapana, is from a hoard that surfaced in village of Ashmaka in Maharashtra in 90s. The coin discovered is around 4,000 Years Old. Pradyota was Aryan Dynasty (2061 C.A. to 1923 C.A.)
Vedic Coins found in Taxila and Rajasthan
About 2100 BC, in north western part of India, Takshashila or Taxila and Pushkalavati (Both Aryan Cities), became an important commercial centers for the trade with Mesopotamia. These wealthy satrapies (provinces) introduced a unique coinage to facilitate the trade. These were silver concave bars of 11 gms which are popularly called as `Taxila bent bars' or `Satamana bent bars'. Satmana or Shatamana represented 100 rattis of silver in weight (Shata means 100 while mana means unit). These silver bars were punched with two septa-radiate (seven arms) symbols, one at each end. These bent bars represents one of the few dicovered coins of Vedic Times. Shown below is a fine example of Shatamana bent bar. These Coins were dicovered in 1999.
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