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U.P.P.C.S. Pre 2000

Early Islamic Coinage in India

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who among the following issued silver coins with Sanskrit legend on one side?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept To facilitate trade and project authority in his Indian territories (like Lahore), Mahmud of Ghazni issued coins that blended Islamic theology with local language and script.

Explanation Mahmud of Ghazni issued silver Dirhams featuring an Arabic legend on the obverse and a Sanskrit translation of the Kalima in Sharda script on the reverse (e.g., 'Avyaktam-ekam' for Allah).

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: This was a pragmatic tool for economic integration in the Punjab region.
Logic 2: The coins often bore the image of a bull and the Sanskrit title 'Sri Madhava' (Lord Krishna) or other divine epithets to build local acceptance.

Active Recall

Question

In which city were these Sanskrit-legend coins primarily minted?

Answer

They were primarily minted at the 'Mahmudpur' mint in Lahore.

Core Insight

The use of Sanskrit by an invader like Ghazni highlights the pragmatic necessity of using local cultural markers to ensure the circulation of currency.

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