6 Square Coins From My Collection

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Square is interesting in coins. Most do not know that one of the three main inventors of coinage, (Greece, China, and India all independently invented coinage, but the Lydians were first), India, started with square coins. Square was a very common shape for coins in India and Central Asia due to Indian influence, in antiquity.

 

Here is a very old & kinda square coin from NE India (Nepal / Himalaya area).

INDIA, Shakya
AR 5 Shana
ca. 600-500 B.C.
Budha Coin
6.71 gms, 26 mm x 19.5 mm
Obv: One pellet around a central pentagon, ten secondary punches on rectangular planchet
Rev: Blank pattern from anvil
Grade: Essentially as made. Obverse silver is beginning to re-tone.
Other: Minted & circulated by the Indian prince who is the prophet Budha. From Warden Numismatics September 2013.

 

Here is one from the other end of the spectrum (modern).

1966 Ten Shillings from The Bailiwick of Guernsey.

 

Collect, the one thing I would say about your coin is its from the time of Prince Siddhartha Gatama, (Buddha), then it would be mid 5th century, not 6th century. Its pretty well accepted they got the dates off when they started the buddhist calendar. I find most older references on Indian coin dating off by 100 years or so, maybe because of this error. 2013 is 2556 in the buddhist calendar, but its really only been about 2450 years since Buddha was born.

The British Museum publication, "From Persepolis to the Punjab" goes over this dating issue fairly well.

 

Thanks much.

I've corrected the Budha coin label. CT won't let me edit the post above.


INDIA, Shakya
AR 5 Shana
ca. 500-400 B.C.
Buddha Coin
6.71 gms, 26 mm x 19.5 mm
Obv: One pellet around a central pentagon, ten secondary punches on rectangular planchet
Rev: Blank pattern from anvil
Grade: Essentially as made. Obverse silver is beginning to re-tone.
Other: Minted & circulated by the Indian Prince Siddhartha Gatama, who is the prophet Buddha. From Warden Numismatics September 2013.[/quote]

 

Btw, its pretty darned hard to make a square coin. The problem is not cutting out a square flan, that is the part that is easier than round coins. The problem is that when you strike them the metal wants to flow out in all directions, so it tries to make a round coin even if you start with a square flan. That is why ancient coins called "square" look roundish. Striking a square coin without modern collar technology is just very hard to accomplish.

The early Indian square coins were easy, since the silver was cut into square shapes and only punchmarks applied to it. That is ok, but if struck with a whole die it would round the flan out much more.

 

interesting med...here's an ancient with some "roundish" qualities.





it bulges most at the center part of the sides, must be what you were talking about.

menander I
bronze single unit
o: elephant, greek legend
r: club of Hercules, kharoshthi legend
160-145 bc
2.7g
15mm

 

I am planning to enlarge my square coins collection.Your coins are also wonderful.I have got some ancient Indian coins but they are not square.

 

OK, you sucked me in. Here's a few:

 

And a few more.

 

Hidden dragon I fell in love with your coins.I hope I will have some like them.They are really cool.Thanx for sharing

 

CEYLON.

 

BELGIAN CONGO.

 

BARBADOS.

 

EAST CARIBBEAN STATES.

 

INDIA.

 

MAURITIUS.

 

SWAZILAND.

 

SIERRA LEONE.