[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Administrative System of the Marathas](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923) › c23.s8.1 # Administrative System of the Marathas c23.s8.1 Administrative System of the Marathas c23.s8.1 - **Language:** English ### [c23.s8.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c23.s8.1) The origin of another Maratha village officer, \*viz.\*, the Potdar, can be traced to the Maurya days. The Potdar was a Sonar or goldsmith by caste, and his duty was to assay coins. Kautilya mentions an examiner of coins,²⁹ and lays down that no gold coin should be accepted by the treasury officer unless its purity has been attested to by the examiner of coins (or Rupadarsaka).³⁰ It was his duty to regulate currency both as a medium of exchange and as legal tender admissible into the treasury.³¹ Whether Kautilya's Rupadarsaka was like the Maratha Potdar a goldsmith by caste or profession we do not know, but it may be noticed here that the officer in charge of the Maurya mint was, as in Maratha days, a goldsmith. While in Shivaji's time and under the Peshwa regime the goldsmiths obtained license, on the payment of a premium, for opening and working mints under certain stipulations and reservations, the Maurya kings had mints of their own, and these were worked under the supervision of the State goldsmith. - [Previous: c23.s7.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c23.s7.19) - [Next: c23.s8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c23.s8.2) - [Up: c23.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c23.s8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c23.s8.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c23.s8.1) · Pramāṇa