Mauryan Empire: 300-200 BC, Tri-Kakani, Cast Copper....Huge coin Awesome patina!

[mitresh]

Maurya Empire, 300-200 BC, Tri-Kakani, Cast Square Copper, 14.54g, Vidarbha (Bhandara-Pavani Region)

Obv: Within an outer border, a Hollow Cross within a circle

Rev: Within an outer border, a 3-arch hill / stupa within a circle

A delicious thick chunky uncleaned coin complete with natural sand patina including encrusted dirt, mud and grime bearing testimony to its great antiquity. I first decided to give this chappie a good oil-cum-water bath followed by cleaning but then decided to leave him dirty, scarface and pock-marked as-is!

The sprue (joint / protrusion at the edge of the coin) indicates the point where the coin was 'joined' with similar other specimen(s) and broken/retrieved from the cast mould. Given the weight and size of the coin, it is most probable the cast moulds were laid horizontally, side by side, with 'runners' thru' which to pour the molten metal (copper) into the moulds containing the coins Obv/Rev impressions. Once the metal cooled and settled into the shape of the engraved impressions on the coin, the moulds (most often of clay) were broken open to retrieve the coins with clippers used to detach / separate the coins joined together, leaving the 'casting join' or sprue visible on the coin.

These coins were supposedly struck by the ministers of King Ashoka in the Vidarbha region of Bhandara-Pavani and found at the excavation sites nearby the numerous stupas in the region.

[Figleaf]

Yes, a fascinating coin, for all its simplicity. I have little to add to the excellent description of the coin and your emotions.

If you keep the coin in a hot climate, you may want to give it an oil bath without cleaning it. The metal will expand and contract with day and night. Som oil will help it do so without developing cracks.

Where does the tri-kakani come from? Wat does it mean? It sounds like a South-pacific dish.

Clay moulds sounds fine, but keep in min that in the same period in the Mediterranean, stone moulds were used for small, simple coins.

There is a remnant of where the next coin was broken off also, illustrating the production method further.

Peter

[mitresh]

Where does the tri-kakani come from? Wat does it mean? It sounds like a South-pacific dish.

Kakani is the name of a copper coin as mentioned in Panini's 'Asthadhyayi' (500 BC), Buddhist Jataka Literature (400 BC) and Chanakya's economic and political treatise 'Arthashastra' (300 BC). Chanakya was the spiritual advisor cum prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Mauryan Empire.

Another treatise viz Manu Dharma Shastra, written approx 100 BC, provides 'ratti' based conversation factors for various metals viz 32 Ratti = 1 Dharana/Purana (silver Karshapana); 80 ratti = 1 Suvarna (gold) & 80 ratti = 1 karshapana (copper, called kakani). 1 ratti = 0.11g. A copper kakani would be 32 ratti = 32*0.11g=3.5g with Tri-kakani being 3*3.5=10.5g, with weight ranges known upto 12g.

Ratti is the name of the Abrus Precatorious plant, called Gunja in Sanskrit and Raktika in Prakrit, ratti for short. The word 'rakt' in Raktika means blood, denoting the blood red color of the seed, see attached pic.

[mitresh]

Proper coin pic!

[Figleaf]

Very interesting, Mitresh. Thank you!

Peter