The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c17.s1.2

v2.c17.s1.2

The Sātavāhana coinage is numerous, but it is generally crude. The Vākāṭakas and the Rāṣṭrakūṭas do not appear to have issued any coins at all; the coinage of the Chālukyas is scarce and intermittent. The Yādavas indeed did issue a regular series of coins in gold, but these have been handed down only in very small quantities. The gold coins of the Chālukyas and of the Yādavas can only have been employed in big monetary transactions. The ordinary man of the Deccan did not, it would seem, derive much benefit from the coinage which the different states issued from time to time. He apparently had to carry on his daily business by means of barter and with the help of cowries. However, we come across silver punch-marked coins in the Deccan, and the Sātavāhanas minted a great mass of coinage in lead and in copper. These latter types may well have been used in some daily transactions.