Ancient Indian Epigraphy, Numismatics & Chronology | MROY Class
Ancient Indian Epigraphy, Numismatics & Chronology Q&A
The Kali Yuga era is universally calculated by traditional Hindu astronomers to have commenced in the year: – 3102 BCEThe Vikrama Era is frequently mentioned in ancient inscriptions under an alternative name. What is it? – The Krita Era or Malava EraThe Kalachuri-Chedi Era commenced in which year? – 248 CEThe Valabhi Era is chronologically identical to the: – Gupta Era (319/320 CE)The Kollam Era, starting in 825 CE, is traditionally associated with which region? – Kerala (Malabar)The Chalukya-Vikrama Era was instituted in 1076 CE to mark the accession of which king? – Vikramaditya VIThe Lakshmana Era (La Sam) was initiated by the Sena dynasty of: – BengalThe Boghazkoi Inscription invokes which set of Rigvedic gods as treaty witnesses? – Indra, Mitra, Varuna, and Nasatyas (Ashvins)The Behistun Inscription of Darius I mentions which Indian region as his 20th satrapy? – Hindush (Sindhu/Indus valley)James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi and Kharoshthi in 1837 while serving as: – Assay Master of the Calcutta Mint and Secretary of the Asiatic SocietyWhich inscription states “Here the Buddha, the sage of the Shakyas, was born”? – Rummindei Pillar EdictThe Hathigumpha Inscription of Kharavela is written in which language? – PrakritThe Junagadh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I is the earliest long inscription written entirely in: – Classical Chaste SanskritThe Nanaghat Inscription was issued by the Satavahana Queen: – NaganikaThe Nasik Prashasti of Gautamiputra Satakarni was commissioned by: – His mother, Gautami BalashriThe Halmidi Inscription, the oldest Kannada inscription, belongs to which dynasty? – Kadambas of BanavasiThe Mangulam Inscriptions mention the patronage of Jain monks by which Pandyan king? – NedunjeliyanThe Mehrauli Iron Pillar states King Chandra crossed the Sindhu to conquer the: – Vahlikas (Bactrians)The Bhitari Pillar Inscription records which Gupta emperor’s struggle against the Hunas? – SkandaguptaThe earliest epigraphic evidence of a decimal place-value zero is found at: – Gwalior (Chaturbhuj Temple), 876 CEThe Sohgaura and Mahasthan records provide the earliest evidence of: – State-organized famine relief measures and grain storageThe Ayodhya Inscription of Dhana Deva records an Ashvamedha performed under the: – ShungasIn the Aihole Prashasti, Ravikirti compares his fame to which two poets? – Kalidasa and BharaviWhich Mughal emperor added a Persian inscription to the Allahabad Pillar? – JahangirThe study of the evolution of ancient scripts is known as: – PalaeographyThe Arthashastra’s official “Mint Master” was titled: – LakshanadhyakshaHow many symbols are typically punched onto a standard Mauryan silver Karshapana? – FiveWhich symbol is the specific imperial hallmark of the Mauryan dynasty? – The three-arched hill with a crescentThe reverse of Indo-Greek coins typically bore a legend in: – Kharoshthi (and Prakrit language)The Ai-Khanoum coins featuring Vasudeva-Krishna and Balarama were issued by: – AgathoclesWima Kadphises’s pure gold coins reflect devotion to: – Lord Shiva (depicted with a trident and Nandi)The first anthropomorphic Buddha coins, inscribed “BODDO”, were issued by: – Kanishka IWhich dynasty predominantly minted coinage from ‘Potin’? – The SatavahanasYajna Sri Satakarni’s ship-motif coins signify: – The importance of maritime trade and naval powerThe largest Gupta gold coin hoard (1946) was discovered at: – Bayana, RajasthanSkandagupta increased the Gupta gold Dinara to 144 grains, a standard called: – SuvarnaChandragupta II’s new Gupta silver coins were known as: – RupayakasWhich Gupta emperor issued the “Rhinoceros-slayer” type gold coin? – Kumaragupta IWhich other Gupta emperor issued a “Veena-vadana” type coin like Samudragupta? – Kumaragupta IThe standard unit of gold weight in the Imperial Chola economy was the: – KalanjuThe Gadhaiya Paisa coins were degenerate imitations of coins of the: – Sassanian Empire (Indo-Sassanian type)The Yaudheyas prominently featured which war deity on their coins? – Kartikeya (Kumara / Brahmanyadeva)The “Bull and Horseman” coin type was originally introduced by the: – Hindu Shahis of Kabul and GandharaKapardakas, used for daily retail trade, were: – Cowrie shells (imported from the Maldives)In Mathura inscriptions, a Sreni refers to: – An artisan or merchant guild acting as an early banking institutionWhich ruler issued a gold coin with Lakshmi on the obverse, later copied by Muhammad Ghori? – Gangeyadeva (the Kalachuri king of Tripuri)Why did Roman coins largely vanish from India after the 3rd century CE? – A severe economic and political crisis in the Roman Empire collapsed direct maritime tradeA land grant made exclusively to a Jain temple was called: – PallichchhandamWhich inscription evidences worship of the composite deity Harihara? – Mandasor InscriptionThe earliest surviving copper-plate land grant in India was issued by the: – Pallavas (the early Prakrit copper plates like Hirahadagalli)
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📌 Quick Summary — Epigraphy, Numismatics & Chronology
Chronological Eras: Indian dating systems span the cosmological Kali Yuga (3102 BCE), the Vikrama/Krita Era (58 BCE), the Shaka Era (78 CE), the Gupta/Valabhi Era (319/320 CE), the Kalachuri-Chedi Era (248 CE), the Kollam Era (825 CE, still used in Kerala), the Chalukya-Vikrama Era (1076 CE), and the Lakshmana Era (1119 CE).Foundational & Ashokan Epigraphy: Foreign records like the Boghazkoi and Behistun inscriptions place Vedic gods and “Hindush” on the world stage; James Prinsep’s 1837 decipherment of Brahmi/Kharoshthi unlocked Ashoka’s edicts, including the Rummindei birthplace inscription and Kharavela’s Hathigumpha record.Gupta & Post-Gupta Milestones: The Junagadh Rock Inscription pioneered classical Sanskrit prashastis, the Mehrauli Pillar and Bhitari Pillar record Gupta military feats, and the Gwalior inscription (876 CE) provides the earliest unambiguous zero, anchoring India’s mathematical legacy.Numismatic Evolution: From five-symbol Mauryan punch-marked coins and bilingual Indo-Greek issues, through Kushana gold (Shiva-devotee Wima Kadphises, Buddha-imaged Kanishka I), to Satavahana Potin/ship coins and the Gupta Dinara-Rupayaka system, coinage charts India’s shifting political and religious landscape.Economy, Trade & Society: Roman coin hoards (Augustus/Tiberius) reveal peak Indo-Roman trade before its 3rd-century collapse; Srenis functioned as banks at Mathura and Nashik; Kapardakas (cowries), the Chola Kalanju, and the long-lived Bull-and-Horseman coin template show currency’s deep social reach.
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