Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s7.t5.2

v1.c28.s7.t5.2

Elemental analysis provided considerable insight to the contemporary raw material situation. The issue of progressive debasement of silver coins with increasing proportion of copper was discussed in chapter 10 as an index of dwindling silver reserve in the economy and the political situation. The nickel content of the ‘white copper’ coin in Taxila (Table 14.8) reflected the contact of Taxila with the nickel-rich areas of Central Asia and China.