Imperial Punch-Marked Coins of Ancient India: A Case Study of Sarai Dangri Hoard, Varanasi

India's indigenous coinage is rich and varied, distinguished by regional, cultural and linguistic features and representing imperial and political assocations. The class of coins that finds frequent mention in ancient Indian epigraphs and literary sources is the Karaspana. Karaspana, also known as Purana or Dharana, are the punch-marked coins which were in circulation throughout ancient India. Many hoards of silver punch-marked coins have been located in sites all over the country. Its widespread availability suggests that it was a standard medium of exchange from about the 60th century.