Role of Archaeological Sources with

special reference to:

Coins

Name- Khushi Burad

Class- First Year
Department- M.A. A.I.H.C and Archaeology
Semester I
A geometric metallic object with symbols, numbers and names minted on it, today might not
be an indicator of many things but it holds the ultimate power to connect us to our past and
gives us information about the history of the nation. In any given political scenario, the
economic condition of the region marks its power and hold over the other regions not under its
jurisdiction. This is not just the case of current geo politics but the coins of past too, tell us
about the political scenario and trade situations of the time then prevalent. Numismatics is a
branch of history which refers to the study of coins and their interpretation. This study
eventually helps us understand the nature of metals or alloys used or obtained during that time,
tell us about the economic and trade relations between the two or more kingdoms. They also
give us a very brief information about the kings or guilds which commissioned the minting of
these coins and help us understand the chronology of the dynasties better. Rarely do early
Indian coins have dates on them. A few examples are the Gupta silver coins that show the regnal
years of monarchs, and western Kshatrapa coins that provide dates from the Shaka era. Coins
found in archaeological digs, whether dated or not, frequently aid in the dating of the levels.
For instance, at the Sonkh site near Mathura, the excavated layers were categorized into eight
periods based on coin finds.
The earliest evidence in Indian historical context is those of punch marked coins which were
majorly made of silver along with copper. The raktika or rati, a reddish-black gunja berry seed,
served as the fundamental unit of measurement in Indian coin weight systems. The majority of
the coins with punch marks in silver weighed 32 rattis, or roughly 56 grains. Based on their
weight, punch count, type, and distribution pattern, the punch-marked coins of northern India
can be categorized into four primary series: the Taxila-Gandhara type from the northwest,
which has a heavy weight standard and a single punch; the Kosala type from the middle Ganga
valley, which has a heavy weight standard and multiple punches; the Avanti type from western
India, which has a light weight standard and a single punch; and the Magadhan type, which has
a light weight standard and multiple punches.
A particularly significant source for the political history of India between roughly 200 BCE
and 300 CE is numismatic data. Nearly all of the information about the Indo-Greek kings comes
from their coinage. Coins also provide historical details on the Kushanas, Satavahanas, Shakas,
Kshatrapas, and Parthians. Coins bearing the names of more than twenty-five monarchs with
the suffix "mitra" have been discovered in the region extending from east Punjab to the
boundaries of Bihar. There are monarchs mentioned on coins discovered in north and central
India whose names end in "naga," and little is known about them from other sources. Coins
can also provide insight into historical political structures. City coins allude to the significance
and potential independence of specific municipal administrations. Numismatic evidence can
occasionally provide biographical information in addition to royal names. For example, coins
celebrating the marriage of Gupta monarch Chandragupta I to a Lichchhavi princess provide
us with the only precise information about his life that we are aware of. Between Samudragupta
and Chandragupta II, a Gupta ruler by the name of Ramagupta ruled, as evidenced by coins.
Coins bear the record of Samudragupta and Kumaragupta I performing the Ashvamedha
sacrifice. Samudragupta's coin types depicting him as an archer and a battle-axe, as expected,
promote his physical strength, but the lyrist type, which features him playing the vina, reveals
a whole another side to him.
The representation of deities on coins tells us about the religious cults' past, royal religious
policy, and the personal religious preferences of the monarchs. For example, depictions of
Krishna and Balarama may be found on coins from the Indo-Greek king Agathocles at Ai
Khanoum from the second century BCE, demonstrating the significance and appeal of these
deities' cults in this area. It is generally accepted that the Kushana rulers' coins, which included
a wide range of figures from Indian, Persian, and Graeco-Roman religious traditions, were a
representation of their diverse religious beliefs. However, it can also be interpreted as proof of
the several religious sects that were prevalent in their kingdom and the variety of religious
symbols that the Kushanas used to justify their political rule. The widespread use of Kushana
coins reveals the thriving trade during that time. A few Satavahana coins feature a ship,
signifying the significance of marine trade in the Deccan during this era. Information on Indo-
Roman trade can be gleaned from Roman coins discovered around India. Guilds are important
institutions, as evidenced by the small number of coin series they have created. Coins are
frequently used to represent the financial standing of historical states or the degree of economic
prosperity—or lack thereof.
Coin depreciation is often seen by historians as a sign of a state financial crisis or, in the case
of the later Guptas, a more widespread economic downturn. On the other hand, alloying or
debasement may occur in response to a rise in coin demand brought on by an increase in the
number of economic transactions in an environment where the supply of precious metals is
constrained or decreased. As previously mentioned, there is a close relationship between the
numismatic record of early mediaeval India and larger discussions regarding the characteristics
of the political, social, and economic systems of that era. Coins serve as significant royal
messengers and are an essential source of political history. Empire boundaries and size are
frequently estimated from the dynastic issue circulation area. Precious metal coins, however,
had intrinsic worth and were frequently in circulation outside the borders of the states that
issued them, so caution must be used. They occasionally persisted in circulation after a dynasty
lost power for a while. A location may have numerous prevailing currency systems, so it's
important to picture various overlapping and intersecting coin circulation spheres.
History is based on a careful and expert examination of the sources. It is the historian's
responsibility to consider the unique possibilities and limitations of the numerous literary and
archaeological sources for ancient India. Analyzing the data from ancient literature,
archaeological sites, coinage, and inscriptions requires interpretation. When multiple sources
are accessible, the evidence from them must be tied to one another. A more thorough and
complete history of ancient India depends in particular on the correlation of data from texts and
archaeology. Coins too have their own limitations but it also strongly helps to narrate a
historical journey which would have not been this powerful without its evidence. For most part
of the Ancient Indian history, apart from inscriptions, coins lay a framework for historians and
archaeologists to work upon. Material evidence of coins makes it easy to understand several
aspects of then existing societies and is definitely an important part of the archaeological
sources of Ancient Indian History.