Ancient Betwa River Valley (150-100 BC) issue of City State Erikaccha (Erich) of King Sahasrasena, Inscribed punch Marked Coin

Ruler : Sahasrasena
Era : (150-100 BC)
Dynasty : Sena rulers
Denomination : 1 Unit
Metal : Copper
Weight : 1.56 g
Diameter : 12.3 mm
Reference : Pieper # Type 961

Obverse :
Brahmi legend above and below reading ‘Rajno Saha / srasenasa’, a horizontal punch of a palm tree.

Reverse :
Blank.

Comment :
This coin is strucked using both the techniques i.e. punched and die strucked, In ancient period it was known as ‘Erikachha’ or ‘Erakachha’ and according to a Buddhist text, the Petavatthu it was one of the major cities of the Dasanna janapada (Dasharna was an ancient Indian janapada in eastern Malwa region between the Dhasan River and the Betwa River) , Monarchical Coinage. Bhakt Prahlad was born in Erich and Holika Dehan first took place Erich. The names of a number of rulers of Erich during the post-Maurya period are found from the coins issued by them. They are Sahasamitra, Ishvaramitra, Sahasrasena, Mitrasena, Amitasena and Mahasena, Historically important, Rare.