Q. Which of the following metals were mostly used for minting coins during the Mauryan period?
(a) Bronze and gold
(b) Gold and lead
(c) Silver and copper
(d) Lead and silver
Ans: (c) Silver and copper
Explanation:
During the Mauryan period, the coins were mostly minted using (c) Silver and copper.
The Mauryan Empire, under the reign of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and his successors, had a well-developed system of coinage. The most commonly used metals for minting coins during this period were silver and copper.
Silver was typically used for the higher denominations, while copper was used for the lower denominations. The silver coins were known as “Karshapana,” and the copper coins were known as “Pana.” These coins played a crucial role in facilitating trade and commerce within the empire.
While bronze and gold were also used for certain specialized or limited editions of coins, the widespread and commonly circulated coins during the Mauryan period were primarily made of silver and copper.
Therefore, the correct answer is (c) Silver and copper.
