Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c22.s5.5

v1.c22.s5.5

Local copper coinage of Taxila started during the end of the Mauryan era, and covered the period of autonomy between the decline of the Maurya empire and the Greek occupation. The majority of the coins were marked with the Taxilian symbols such as *caitya* (commonest), *swastika*, hollow cross, plant, animals like lion or elephant, and later, presumably under Greek influence, the horse. Attempts were made to impart glamour to copper coins by not only silver-plating but also alloying the metal with nickel. White copper coin of Euthydemus II (180 BC) contained 20 per cent nickel, 1 iron, 0.6 cobalt and rest copper.