India Gandhara Pushkalavati 185-165 BCE 1½ Copper Karshapana

Product Description

Part of the Persian Empire until its conquest by Alexander the Great, the city of Pushkalavati was located in the Gandhara kingdom, now modern-day Pakistan. With the decline of the next empire, Pushkalavati and other cities in the region seized the opportunity to become independent. As a symbol of its liberty, Pushkalavati produced its own local coinage which included this copper piece — its square shape and weight was characteristically Indian, but its elephant and lion motif was Grecian. Size and shape will vary. Approximate size 1" x 1".