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Uttarakhand P.C.S. Prelims 2006

Medieval Indian Numismatics

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Coins of which Muslim ruler bear an image of Devi Lakshmi?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept Early Islamic rulers in India often adopted local currency patterns to ensure economic continuity and political legitimacy among their new subjects.

Explanation After the victory at Tarain, Muhammad Ghori (Muhammad bin Sam) minted gold coins that featured the image of Goddess Lakshmi on the obverse and his name in Devanagari script on the reverse.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option A is correct. This 'imitative' coinage was necessary because the local population was accustomed to the gold coins of the Gahadavala and Kalachuri dynasties.
Logic 2: These coins used the legend 'Shri Muhammad bin Sam' in Nagari, illustrating the syncretic nature of the very first Sultanate currency.

Active Recall

Question

Why did Ghori use Devanagari script on his coins?

Answer

To make the currency recognizable and acceptable to the local North Indian population who were unfamiliar with Arabic script.

Core Insight

The Lakshmi coins of Ghori signify that the early Sultanate was a pragmatic military occupation that prioritized financial stability over strict religious dogmatism in its initial phase.

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