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The Surashtra janapada was located in modern Saurashtra, in the state of Gujarat. It is mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Indeed, the city of Dwarka, where Lord Krishna ruled, is in northern Saurashtra, although the Surashtra janapada may have been located only in the southern part of the peninsula. Most Surashtra coins are found in the south, in Junagadh district. Surashtra was absorbed into the Mauryan empire by Chandragupta Maurya.
Most coins from Surashtra are approximately 1 gm. in weight. Rajgor believes they are therefore quarter karshapanas of 8 rattis, or 0.93 gm. Mashakas of 2 rattis and double mashakas of 4 rattis are also known.
The coins appear to be uniface, in that there is a single die-struck symbol on one side. However, most of the coins appear to be overstruck over other Surashtra coins and thus there is often the remnant of a previous symbol on the reverse, as well as sometimes under the obverse symbol as well. The coins below illustrate this very well.
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| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.86 gm., 15-16 mm.
Bull striding left, remnants of undertype/
remnants of undertype
Ref: Rajgor, 405-407. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.99 gm., 12-15 mm.
Elephant left, remnants of undertype/
remnants of undertype
Ref: Rajgor, 410. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.95 gm., 12-13 mm.
Goddess seated left, taurine & sun ? above/
remnants of undertype
Ref: Rajgor, 411. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.97 gm., 11-14 mm.
Goddess seated facing, remnants of undertype/
remnants of undertype
Ref: Rajgor, 411c. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.93 gm., 14-17 mm.
Goddess seated facing, remnants of undertype/
remnants of undertype (bull left)
Ref: Rajgor, 411c. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.86 gm., 13-13 mm.
Goddess seated facing, remnants of undertype/
remnants of undertype (bull left)
Ref: Rajgor, 411c. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.94 gm., 10-13 mm.
Goddess seated facing, /
remnants of undertype (bull left)
Ref: Rajgor, 411c. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.97 gm., 13-14 mm.
Railed tree, remnants of undertype /
remnants of undertype (bull left)
Ref: Rajgor, 412c. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.92 gm., 12-15 mm.
6-hill symbol, remnants of undertype (goddess?)/
remnants of undertype
Ref: Rajgor, 415. |
| Silver 1/4 karshapana
c. 450-300 BCE
Weight:0.95 gm., 12-12 mm.
6-hill symbol, taurines below /
undertype: bull left
Ref: Rajgor, 416. |
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