How does the study of numismatics contribute to the unravelling of India's history? Explain with suitable examples.

Numismatics can be defined as the study of coins which were minted in different phases in the history.

Contribution of numismatics in unravelling of India's history:

> Economic Trade: the types of coins like copper coins, gold coins, silver coins give the prosperity aspect of the ancient rulers. (e) Finding of Kannan coins in south India, Gupta's copper coins.

> Political history: gold coins of Guptas, specially there in the reign of Chandragupta II, Harshavardhana containing the name and time period of the rulers.

> Metallurgy: the refinement & purity of the coins and anti corrosive property since information of technological development (a) punch marked coins, Dinars, Silver (Tanka) Copper (Tittal) etc.

> Geographical reach of empire: (eg) presence of harvest coins in south India.

> Other Artefacts like alienation towards music: (eg) Isandagupta playing veena.

> Religious aspects: the types of god worshipped (eg) lakshmi, vishnu, shiva images on coins

> Time period can be known with the study of medieval coins (eg) the experiments of Muhammad Ery Taylor & his alternate forge coins.

> Modernity aspects, like that of present during the British era (eg) coins contain the name of the ruler like Queen Elizabeth, Victoria image etc.