The correct answer is Option (1) → Kushanas
The first gold coins in India were issued around the First Century CE by the Kushanas.
Historical Context
While the Indo-Greeks were the first to issue coins in India, the Kushanas (specifically under Emperor Vima Kadphises) are credited with the first large-scale and systematic issuance of gold coins in the subcontinent around the 1st Century CE.
- Standardization: These gold coins were based on the Roman denarius weight standard (approx. 8 grams) because of the flourishing trade with the Roman Empire via the Silk Road.
- Iconography: The coins were unique because they depicted the king on the obverse (front) and various deities from Indian, Greek, and Iranian pantheons on the reverse. For example, many coins featured Lord Shiva with his trident and his bull, Nandi.
- Expansion: Later, under Emperor Kanishka, the gold coinage became even more widespread, reflecting the peak of the empire's economic prosperity.
Comparison with other Dynasties:
- Mauryas: They primarily issued silver and copper punch-marked coins (which used symbols instead of portraits).
- Guptas: They are famous for their spectacular "Golden Age" gold coins (Dinars), but they came later, starting in the 4th Century CE.
- Chalukyas: This dynasty ruled much later in Southern and Central India (6th–12th Century CE).
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