Silver coin from the period of Bindusara, Mauryan dynasty
297–272 BCE ・ silver ・ 3rd century BC ・ Pataliputra Mint
A Karshapana struck at the Pataliputra mint during the reign of Bindusara of the Mauryan dynasty. The reference is cited as Mitchiner ACW 4165, with dimensions of 14 by 11 mm and a weight of 3.4 grams. Among the punchmarks on the obverse is a sun symbol. During the time of Ashoka's father, the empire was still expanding. The work of striking a sun onto irregular silver flans was a daily routine at the mint in the imperial capital.