[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924) › c29.135 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c29.135 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c29.135 - **Language:** English ### [c29.135](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.135) The financial distress of Skandagupta’s administration is plainly indicated by the abrupt debasement of the coinage in his latter years. The gold coins of his early and prosperous days agree in both weight and fineness with those of his ancestors, but the later issues, while increased in gross weight, so as to suit the ancient Hindu standard of the \*suvarṇa\*, exhibit a decline in the amount of pure gold in each piece from 108 to 73 grains.³ This marked lowering of the purity of the currency, which was accompanied by a corresponding degradation in the design and execution of the dies, evidently was caused by the difficulty which the treasury experienced in meeting the cost of the Hun war. - [Previous: c29.134](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.134) - [Next: c29.136](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.136) - [Up: c29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.135](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.135) · Pramāṇa