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What do you mean by Numismatics ? How has the study of coins helped the Numistatists to reconstruct possible commercial network during 6^(th) century BCE? Discuss.

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Solution :Numismatics is the study of coins, including visual elements such as scripts and images, metallurgical analysis and the contexts in whichthey have found.
(i) Numismatists have studied the punch maked coins made of sliver and copperwhich have been removed from excavations at a number of sites throughout the subcontinent and other coins to reconstruct possible commercial networks.
(ii) Many attempts were made to identifythe symbols on punch marking coins with specific ruling dynasties including the Mauryans, suggest that they were issued bykings. It is also likely that merchants, bankers and towns people issued some of thesecoins.
(iii) The first coins to bear the names and images of rulers were issued by the Indo-Greek.s who establihed control over the north western part of the sub-continent second century BCE.
(iv) The first gold coins issued in the first century CE by Kushanas have been found from several sites in north India and central Asia. These widespread use of gold coins indicates the enormous value of the transactions that were TAKING place.
(v) Hoards of Roman coins have also been found from archaeological sites in SOUTH India, which shows that the NETWORK of trade were not confined within political boundaries as south India was not a part of Roman empire but there were close connections through trade.
(vi) Archaeologists have unearthed severalthousand copper coins issued by the Yaudheyas the tribal republics of Punjab and Haryana (c first century CE) points to the interests and participation in economic EXCHANGES.
(vii) Some of the most spectacular gold coins were issued by the Gupta rulers. The earliest issues are remarkable for their purity.
(viii) These coins facilitated long distance transactions from which king also BENEFITTED.


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