The Mauryan Empire (321–185 BC)

 

The Mauryan Empire grew out of the Magadh Janapada. The empire was founded around 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya, after overthrowing the unpopular Nanda King of Magadh with the help of Chanakya, who became his confidant. He started consolidating land as Alexander the Great's power began to wane after his death in 323 BC. Chandragupta did not conquer most of the land that made up his empire. 

                              

                    Chandragupta Punch mark Coin

With the exception of Gandhara, all the lands ruled by him had been conquered by the Nanda emperors. The dynasty ruled for about two hundred years till 185 BC. The empire expanded south of the Hindu Kush mountains (present-day Afghanistan) after Seleucid Emperor Seleucus I ceded to him. His son Bindusara and grandson Ashoka expanded the empire. However, after the battle of Kalinga in 261 BC, Ashoka decided to abandon war altogether. He converted to Buddhism and spread it all across his empire and also to other countries.It was the first pan-Indian empire that covered most of the Indian region, spanned over parts of modern day Iran as well.

The Mauryan Empire survived for about 50 years after Ashoka’s death, before a general Pushyamitra Sunga usurped the throne and went on to create the Shunga Empire.

Maurya coinage consists mainly of silver karshapanas, almost all coins have five or six punches and always include a sun symbol in those punches. The Mauryan Empire also introduced for the first time in India square-shaped copper coins with punch marks. Some of the later coins of Ashoka bear his royal mark on the reverse.

                          Maurya Empire, 250 BC

                      

Chandragupta Maurya, Silver karshapana, weight 3.1 gm

Obverse: Three female figures and six-armed symbol

Reverse: Peacock walking right, on five arched hills, 

Silver karshapna, 300–200 BC, weight 3.38 gm                                                         

Silver karshapna, Ashoka 300–200 BC, weight 3.3 gm

         

                                             

 Silver karshapna, Magadh, series IV, 400–300 BC, weight 3.4 gm

Silver karshapna, 400–200 BC, weight 2.9 gm

Copper coin, Ashoka 200–300 BC, weight 2.6 gm

Silver karshapna, Ashoka 200–300 BC, weight 3.39 gm

 

Silver karshapna, series V, 400–300 BC, weight 3.4 gm

Silver karshapna, Ashoka 268–232 BC, weight 3.2 gm

 Maurya Empire

Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire