The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s7.50

v1.c7.s7.50

Money is as much essential for the free flow of trade as are the means of communication. But as is the case in all early societies currency was sparingly used in the Deccan. Most of the local transactions were effected by barter or by the use of small coins or other exchange tokens. Coinage did not appeal much to the early Hindu craftsmen. The Sātavāhana coins were of lead, potin, copper, and silver with no pretensions to artistic merit.¹ Nahapāna struck coins of both copper and silver. His silver coins were apparently imitations of the hemi-drachms of the Indo-Greek kings as regards size, weight, and fabric. Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi restruck most of the silver coins which had been issued in the name of Nahapāna.² The *kāhāpaṇas* (*karshapanas*) mentioned in the contemporary records were silver coins.³ One of the inscriptions of Ushabhadāta furnishes the information that the rate of exchange between the *kāhāpaṇa* and the gold coin of the period, the *suvarṇa*, was one to thirty-five.⁴