An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c8.s1.t1.2

v1.c8.s1.t1.2

The Greeks introduced the splendid series of portrait coinage—a type followed by Indian moneyers for a number of centuries. They struck in silver and copper with bilingual inscriptions and types that were partly Greek and partly Indian. Their square coppers are met with in great abundance. Parallel to the purely Indo-Greek series are the coins of the Śakas and the Parthians. Many of their coin types are remarkable for a profusion of privy marks that should eventually permit a much closer dating and localization than is at present possible. The coins of the W. Kṣatrapas are chiefly important because on them first appear dates in the Śaka era which thenceforward provides a much firmer basis for chronology. The most remarkable coin series of the early centuries A.D. are those of the Kushans and the Guptas. The Kushans struck an abundance of gold coins (their predecessors had minted almost exclusively in silver and copper), some of them concave in form, with a great variety of Indian, Greek and Iranian deities as types. The Kushans likewise struck coppers in large quantities to provide small change for minor transactions. This shows the penetration of money economy into towns and possibly into rural areas. The gold coinage of the Guptas is abundant and purely Indian but extremely varied in type, besides being of high artistic quality. The king is shown in an infinity of roles and Hindu deities appear as a matter of course. The legends betray a tendency to transform the coins into something not far removed from commemorative medals. The Guptas issued some silver to serve in W. India only and very little copper. This could be due to the emergence of a self-sufficient village economy in mid-India and the decline set in trade and commerce and consequently in money economy in the countryside.