Consider the following statements regarding the Satavahanas:
1. They mostly issued coins of lead.
2. They also used potin, copper, silver and bronze money.
3. They did not issue gold coins but used it as bullion.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation Statement 1 is correct: The Satavahanas were one of the few dynasties in India that extensively used lead coins. Lead was locally available in the Deccan region, making it a preferred metal for coinage. Some of their early coins were made of lead with punch-marked symbols.
Statement 2 is correct: Apart from lead, the Satavahanas also issued coins in potin (an alloy of copper, tin, and lead), copper, silver, and bronze. Silver coins were fewer and were mostly issued in regions under Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian influence.
Statement 3 is correct: The Satavahanas did not mint gold coins, unlike their contemporaries like the Kushanas and Guptas. However, gold was widely used as bullion for trade and high-value transactions. The Roman gold coins (Aureus) found in Satavahana territories suggest that gold entered their economy through trade but was not minted into coins.
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