Numismatics is the study of coins, including visual elements such as scripts and images, metallurgical analysis and the contexts in which they have been found.
The study of coins has helped the numismatists to reconstruct the possible commercial networks in the following ways:
Introduction of Coinage for Trade Facilitation To some extent, exchanges were facilitated by the introduction of coinage. A wide range of goods like salt, grain, cloth, metal ores and finished products, stone, timber, medicinal plants, etc were carried from one place to another. These certainly required some kind of currency for exchange.
Hence, these led to the development of coinage across the trading cultures.
Excavation of Punch-marked Coins across the Sub-continent Punch-marked coins made of silver and copper ( 16th century BCE onwards) were amongst the earliest to be minted and used. These have been recovered from excavations at a number of sites throughout the sub-continent. Numismatics have studied these and other coins to reconstruct possible commercial networks.
Kings, Merchants and Bankers as Issuing Authority Attempts made to identify the symbols on punch-marked coins with specific ruling dynasties, including the Mauryas, suggest that these were issued by kings. It is also likely that merchants, bankers, and townspeople issued some of these coins.
The similarity of Kushana Coins with those of Greeks and Parthians The first gold coins were issued in 1st century CE by the Kushanas. These were virtually identical in weight with those issued by contemporary Roman emperors and the Parthian rulers of Iran have been found from several sites in North India and Central Asia.
Close Connections with Roman Empire 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 to political boundaries. South India was not a part of the Roman empire, but there were close connections through trade.
Sia ? 5 years, 5 months ago
Numismatics is the study of coins, including visual elements such as scripts and images, metallurgical analysis and the contexts in which they have been found.
The study of coins has helped the numismatists to reconstruct the possible commercial networks in the following ways:
Introduction of Coinage for Trade Facilitation To some extent, exchanges were facilitated by the introduction of coinage. A wide range of goods like salt, grain, cloth, metal ores and finished products, stone, timber, medicinal plants, etc were carried from one place to another. These certainly required some kind of currency for exchange.
Hence, these led to the development of coinage across the trading cultures.
Excavation of Punch-marked Coins across the Sub-continent Punch-marked coins made of silver and copper ( 16th century BCE onwards) were amongst the earliest to be minted and used. These have been recovered from excavations at a number of sites throughout the sub-continent. Numismatics have studied these and other coins to reconstruct possible commercial networks.
Kings, Merchants and Bankers as Issuing Authority Attempts made to identify the symbols on punch-marked coins with specific ruling dynasties, including the Mauryas, suggest that these were issued by kings. It is also likely that merchants, bankers, and townspeople issued some of these coins.
The similarity of Kushana Coins with those of Greeks and Parthians The first gold coins were issued in 1st century CE by the Kushanas. These were virtually identical in weight with those issued by contemporary Roman emperors and the Parthian rulers of Iran have been found from several sites in North India and Central Asia.
Close Connections with Roman Empire 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 to political boundaries. South India was not a part of the Roman empire, but there were close connections through trade.
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