Eran–Vidisha Region, Ancient Central India – Uninscribed Copper AE Unit with Ujjain Symbol & Nandipadas

Ancient India, Central India (Eran–Vidisha region), Uncertain Local Authority, c. 3rd–1st Century BCE, Denomination: AE Unit, Composition: Copper, Weight: 1.95 grams, Diameter: 13.52 mm, Uninscribed, Reference: Unlisted in KM Catalogue, About Very Fine, Rare.

Obverse: Ujjain symbol accompanied by nandipada motifs.

Reverse: Three-arched hill (Chaitya-meru) surmounted by Jayadhvaja (victory standard).

The Eran–Vidisha region of present-day Madhya Pradesh was one of the most important urban and religious centres of ancient Central India, active from the late Mahajanapada period through the Shunga era. Local civic authorities and merchant guilds issued small copper denominations for everyday marketplace circulation. These coins are typically die-struck and uninscribed, relying entirely on sacred and political symbols rather than ruler names.

The Ujjain symbol represents cosmological order and trade authority, frequently associated with western and central Indian mercantile networks. Nandipadas reflect Shaivite religious influence, while the three-arched hill (chaitya) denotes sacred geography and early Buddhist architectural symbolism. The Jayadhvaja above signifies sovereignty and victory, suggesting civic autonomy under larger imperial frameworks such as the Shungas.