Examine the role of numismatic evidence in understanding the political and economic history of ancient India. Provide specific examples.

Numismatics deals with coins and their interpretation in diverse settings. Role of numismatics in political history: (1) Detecting age of civilisation (2) Punch marked coins with the Mahajanapadas traced to 1500 BCE onwards (3) Detecting chronology and lineage of dynasties (4) Kushanas Kanishka Relgat inscription coins (5) To establish claim to rule (6) By divine right: Utpapttaksha mentioned in Vijayangore kingdom (7) Directing shift of power (8) Introduction of silver tanka and copper [illegible] by Elutmish (9) Bilingual coins: implying foreign powers (10) Aramaic & Greek in Gandhra region Role of numismatics in economic history: (1) The material of coin - evidence of technical specialisation of cultivation (11) patin made of tin and copper (2) The number of coins - evidence of decline/prosperity of economy (12) Gupt age gold coin decline (13) Evidence of poor administrative decision - Mohammad Bin Tughlaq introducing copper coins by ordinance softer (14) Coins dispatched by different agents (15) By trade guilds: influence of guild (16) By smaller kingdoms: signalling autonomy (11) Hydabad Nizam code Al-Beram's work indicates how coins themselves may tell the story of rise and fall of civilisations themselves.