Which one of the following statements with reference to the ancient In

Which one of the following statements with reference to the ancient Indian coins is *not* correct?

The Indo-Greeks issued the first coins bearing the name and images of rulers.

The Kushanas issued the first gold coins.

The Kushana gold coins were different in weight from the coins issued by contemporary Roman emperors.

These Kushana gold coins have been found from several sites in north India and central Asia.

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2023

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Statement C is incorrect. The Kushana gold coins, particularly those issued by Vima Kadphises, were heavily influenced by the weight standards of the Roman Empire’s gold coins (aureus/denarius), suggesting a similarity in weight rather than being necessarily different. This standard was likely adopted to facilitate trade between the Kushana Empire and the Roman Empire.

While the Kushanas were prominent issuers of gold coins in ancient India on a large scale, their initial gold coinage often followed Roman weight standards. The statement claims their weight was *different* from contemporary Roman emperors’ coins, which is generally inaccurate for the early Kushana period when the standard was borrowed.

Statement A is correct; the Indo-Greeks were the first to issue coins bearing the portraits and names of rulers in India. Statement B is generally considered correct in the context of widespread, standardized gold coinage, although some earlier limited gold issues might have existed. Statement D is correct; Kushana coins, including gold ones, have been widely found in archaeological sites across North India and Central Asia, reflecting the extent of their empire and trade networks.

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