xperts disagree on exactly when the first coins began to appear on the Indian sub-continent, but silver currency certainly existed by 6th century BC. These coins weren’t always ‘coin-shaped’. The most common shape was rectangular bars of silver, with symbols punched into the metal, using a separate punch). These are known as punched-marked coins. It’s assumed these bars were issued by trade guilds, rather than local rulers, and cut to specific weights, as those that survive are irregular shapes and sizes.
The 1st Century AD
Apr 12, 2024
2 minutes
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