DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

MAURYAN COINAGE 188
Fig. 30. Mauryan successors of Asoka.
Magadha, replanted the sacred tree at Buddha Gaya in the early 7th
century A. D. (Seal 2.118;. The Mauryan name survived locally for
centuries afterwards in many little pockets whose trilling chieftains claimed
such distinguished origin. It has been claimed that the Candrarao More of
Maharashtra may be (nominal.) descendants of Candra^upta Maurya !
From om point of view, it is most important to note that in spite of, or
because of, the greatly extended domain, coins not later thar the reign of
Asoka are heavily debased, containing decidedly more copper than silver.
With Pusya mitra, whose sunga ( fig-tree ) dynasty kept the title senapati
(‘Commander-in-chief). the.first Indian cast coins appear. The punchmarked
system went out of fashion though the coins, circulated for centuries
afterwards, particularly in the south. The Suriga empire was in retreat
before many invaders, Greeks among them. The capital seems to have
been Vidisa (Besnagar), though Ujjain could not have lost its importance.