RRR silver 1/2 karshapana, c.500-330 BC, Erikachha (Dasharna) Janapanda, Ancient India
Four symbols (a flower and three repeating curly geometric marks, ABBB pattern) / Small banker's mark. 23mmx14mm, 1.57 grams. Ragot -; Michael Mitchiner, Ancient Trade and Early Coinage #3743; Cf. Classical Numismatic Gallery Auction 14, lot 5; Cf. Album Auc.28, lot 1950 (same marks). Raath-Hamirpur or "Lower Betwa river system" silver punchmarked coin from Erikachha (Erich) area. This unique symbol pattern (ABBB) is known in no other series except for the 1/2 karshapanas from Erikachha. Dasharna was an ancient Indian janapada in eastern Malwa region between the Dhasan River and the Betwa River. The name of the janapada was derived from the Daśārṇa, the ancient name of the Dhasan River. The important cities of this janapada were Vidisa, Erakina and Erikachha. The coins of this Janapada were not known untill recently. The site of Erich is also known from a number of varieties of copper coinage, some varieties having the janapada name inscribed on them. Erich lied on a very important trade route connecting Kaushambi with Ujjaini and might have been a small but important trade centre in those times. It was annexed by Magadha at around 330 BC.