CH 9 VITAL VILLAGES, THRIVING TOWNS

It was known as Barygaza (Ancient Greek: Βαρύγαζα) (meaning “deep-treasure”), Bargosa etc.

Puranas

a natural or artificial alloy of gold with at least 20 per cent of silver, used for jewellery, especially in ancient times.

the Lydians

The first PMC coins in India may have been minted around the 6th century BCE by the Mahajanapadas of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, The coins of this period were punch-marked coins called Puranas, old Karshapanas or Pana.

Punch Marked Coins issued by Mahajanapadas Various Mahajanapadas issued punch-marked coins in the sixth century BC. Puranas, Karshapanas, and Panas, the first Indian punch-marked coins, were produced in the 6th century BC by the numerous Janapadas and Mahajanapadas of the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Punch Marked Coins are the earliest coins of the sub-continent as well as of Bengal, evolved in c 6th century BC. Silver punch marked coins have been found from mahasthangarh in Bogra, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and from the twin villages of wari-bateshwar under Narsingdi district.

The imperial punch-marked coins, according to Radhakrishnan, uniformly bore five symbols. These coins were issued first by the Magadha dynasty when it was still a janapada. Gradually, Magadha extended its dominions by annexing neighbouring states and became a powerful monarch

Punched Marked coins were made of silver, had a standard weight but were irregular in shape. The irregular shape was made by cutting up silver bars and then making the correct weight by cutting the edges of the coin. These coins lack any inscriptions written in contemporary languages and were always struck in silver.

Punch-marked coins, also known as Aahat coins, are a type of early coinage of India, dating to between about the 6th and 2nd centuries BC. It was of irregular shape