Rare tiny silver mashaka, c.300 BC, Mauryan Empire, India (Fishman/Todd #A12)

A single punchmark in shape of six-armed symbol with arrows and tourine symbols // Blank. 5mm, 0.13 grams. Fishman/Todd "The Ardha-māṣakas of Magadha
and Maurya" (2025) #A12; Terry Hardaker "The Mashaka Fractional Coinage of Ancient India" Group #B13.

Rare early silver type. Tiny silver coin with an interesting history.

These tiny mashakas, were minted during the late Magadha/early Mauryan period in northern India. They were first discovered and published in 1924, but escaped much attention from numismatists, with a notable exception of Terry Hardaker's "The Mashaka Fractional Coinage of Ancient India" which he published in 1999. They were probably worth 1/16th of a silver karshapana and numerous different types were minted using the normal punch technique. The coins are poorly understood, and only a few types are published. 

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