A numismatist sorts coin finds of about the first century CE by their issuers. Which of the following issuers is the odd one out?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Yaudheyas
Option (1) Kushanas — Incorrect. The Kushanas issued the first gold coins of the subcontinent around the first century CE as rulers of a kingdom, so their coins are royal issues.
Option (2) Yaudheyas — Correct. The Yaudheyas of Punjab and Haryana were a tribal republic, not kings, and the coins found of theirs are copper. The other three are rulers whose gold coins matched in weight.
Option (3) Romans — Incorrect. The coins of the Romans were issued by the Roman emperors, and hoards of them found in south India are royal issues of the period.
Option (4) Parthians — Incorrect. The Parthian rulers of Iran issued coins virtually identical in weight with Kushana coins, and these too are royal issues.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.4 Coins and kings … “by contemporary Roman emperors and the Parthian rulers of Iran, and have been found from several sites in north India and Central Asia. The widespread use of gold coins indicates the enormous value of the transactions that were taking place. Besides, hoards of Roman coins have been found from archaeological sites in south India. It is obvious that networks of trade were not confined within political boundaries: south India was not part of the Roman Empire, but there were close connections through trade.” “Coins were also issued by tribal republics such as that of the Yaudheyas of Punjab and Haryana (c. first century CE). Archaeologists have unearthed several thousand copper coins issued by the Yaudheyas, pointing to the latter’s interest and participation in economic exchanges.” |