Coins in Ancient Indian History

General Study is the major and important section for SSC CGL, Banking, Railway and other exams. In every exam, 2 or 3 questions are asked about this topic. Following we are giving a list of some important Coins from Ancient Indian history. 

Brief History About Coins-

• We got about 2000 seals in the Indus civilization. But the articles written on him have not been read yet.
  
• In the Rigvedic period, some gold piles like Nishka, Mana etc. were used in the form of coins. In Vedic literature, the words “rayi” and “shataman” are mentioned for silver coins.
  
• The origin of genuine coins in India is believed to be in the 5th or 6th century BC. These were called “aahat coins”. These were made of silver and copper.
  
• The Indo-Greek rulers are credited with being the first to issue gold coins bearing inscriptions.
  
• The Saka ruler Rudradaman had issued silver coins called “Rudradamaka”.
  
• The Kushanas issued pure gold coins of 124 grains in the imitation of Roman coins.
  
• The Kushanas also issued coins mostly from copper.
  
• During the time of the Parthian ruler Gondophernes, three-language coins were issued.
  
• Gold coins of the Gupta rulers were issued, these were called Dinars.
  
• During the Gupta period coins called Kauri were used in everyday transactions.
  
• There was a shortage of gold coins in the post-Gupta period. Only copper coins of Harshavardhana have been found.
  
• The Huns issued only silver and copper coins.
  
• The Satavahana rulers were the first to issue lead coins.
  
• The coins of Pallava rulers have been found in copper only.
  
• The Chola rulers issued coins of gold, silver, copper and brass. Their gold coins were called “kasu”

Ruler/Dynasty	Coin with their Attributes
Harappan Civilization	Most of the currencies here are made from the cellar
Vedic Period	In the Vedic period, “Chatman” was a silver coin
Vedic Period	“Nishka” was a gold coin or necklace
Maurya Dynasty	“Suvarnarupa” was a Gold coin in Maurya Dynasty
Maurya Dynasty	“Mashak” was a copper coin  in Maurya Dynasty
Maurya Dynasty	“Dharan” was a Silver coin  in Maurya Dynasty
Maurya Dynasty	“Mashak” was a Copper coin
Maurya Dynasty	“Gage” was a silver coin
Satavahana Dynasty	Satavahana Rulers used coins of lead and putty
Kushan Dynasty	The Kushana Rulers issued maximum copper coins The Kushanas issued gold coins in the Roman style
Satakarni I	He issued silver currency in the name of his wife
Yajna Sri Satakarni	He issued a currency bearing the image of a ship
Kujula Kadphises	He had a picture of the Greek king Herms on his coin He issued copper coins.
Vima Kadphises	The credit for issuing the first gold coins in India goes to this ruler On his coins, the image  of Lord Shiva is made with Nandi
Kanishka	He issued coins bearing its own shape. On his coin, the shape of the Greek god, Sun and Moon is made. He issued coins depicting Buddha and Shiva.
Huvishka	Skandakumar, Visakha and Mahasen have the shape on their coins. He performed the posture of Harihara holding a wheel and a linga in his hand on a mudra. There is no picture of Buddha on his coin.
Menander	He issued bronze currency with Dharma Chakra. He issued a currency with the picture of a camel.
Chandragupta I	He issued silver currency
Samudragupta	He issued the Kumaradevi style of currency. He issued the Garundhwaja-style posture. He issued the Ashvamedha-style currency.
Kacha	He issued the Chakradhwaj-style currency.
Chandragupta Vikramaditya	He carried a lion-style posture, in which it is depicted hunting a lion. He introduced tiger-style silver currency after its victory over the Shakas.
Kumaragupta I	He issued silver currency with the shape of a peacock. Horse and yup have been made on the front part of a gold coin and Ashvamedha-Mahendra is written on its back. He issued coins bearing the idol of Skanda riding on a peacock.
Ramagupta	He issued copper coins.
Skandagupta	He issued Garuda-style silver coins. He introduced coins with bull and Shiva images in India.
Buddhagupta	He issued an archer-style gold currency.  He gets his title Shri Vikram.
Narasimhagupta	He also issued archer-style currency. On the front side of the mudra is the king with an archer and an eagle. On its reverse, there is a picture of Lakshmi Ji seated on a lotus.
Mihirakula ( Hune )	The pictures of Nandi and Trishul are inscribed on some of its postures.
Chola Dynasty	The main gold coin of the Chola was Kashu. Another coin of his was Kalanju.