The Sunga Empire is a Magadha dynasty that controlled North-central and Eastern India as well as parts of the northwest from around 185 to 75 BCE. It was established after the fall of the Maurya Empire. The capital of the Sungas was Pataliputra .
Sungan coinage issued between 185 to 73 BCE were copper ¼, ½ and 1 silver karshapana. The fractions were first punched then later cast and made of copper.
On the ½ karshapana were usually pictures of a three-arched hill (chaitya) below a crescent and a railed tree to the right. The other side contained an elephant to the left. Average dimensions are 16 mm with a weight of between 2.5 and 3.1 grams.
The ¼ karshapna had an image of an elephant and rider to the left, with the opposite side containing a three arched hill or mountain called a chaitya with crescent ubove. Diammeter is on average 14 mm, and a varied wight of 1.2 and 2.7 grams.
The silver Pana was a punch marked coin and is distinguishable from the type of punch involved, it was a continuation of the Mauriyan coinage.
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