Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s8.t6.2

v1.c28.s8.t6.2

During the first two centuries of the Christian era the monetary currency of the south consisted chiefly of imported Roman gold. The Sātavāhanas issued lead coins and also silver coins with their life-like portraits and legends in Brāhmī character. The indigenous gold coinage of South India emerged in the tenth century. (Chattopadhyaya, 1977) The South Indian metal-smiths of the Pallava Period (5th-9th century AD) produced some finest miniature and medium size bronzes. The most creative period of the production of South Indian icon in copper and copper alloys emerged during the Cola period (ninth-thirteenth century AD).