OPSC OAS 2024 PrelimsHistory, Art & CultureQuestion 2
Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2024 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Who was the first to issue gold coins in India?
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (D) Indo Greeks
Key Points
- Indo-Greeks: Established their rule in northwestern India after the decline of the Mauryan Empire. They are credited with introducing gold coinage in India, along with high-quality silver coins featuring Greek deities and bilingual inscriptions (Greek and Kharosthi/Brahmi scripts).
- Kushans (Option A): While the Kushans did issue gold coins extensively (the famous "dinaras"), they came later, around the 1st-3rd centuries CE. They were influenced by the Indo-Greek tradition but were not the first.
- Sakas (Option B): The Sakas (Scythians) primarily issued silver and copper coins. They did not initiate the gold coinage tradition in India.
- Parthians (Option C): The Parthians issued coins, but they were not the pioneers of gold coinage in the Indian subcontinent.
