Punch marked coins, also known as Aahat coins, are a type of early coinage of India, which are irregular in shape. The period for these coins is between about the 6th and 2nd BC. Important Points Designs were punched onto the metal coins, thats why they are called punch-marked coins. Sun symbol, bull on the hilltop, elephant are some designs printed on these coins. Mostly made of silver, these bear symbols, each of which punched on the coin with a separate punch. Various Mahajanpadas issued punch-marked coins in the sixth century BC. Puranas, Karshapanas, Magadha are the most prominent of them. Hence, we can say that the earliest coins are called punch-marked coins because designs were punched on the metal coins.