2026 · Ancient HistoryPrevious Year Question
Q3.
Consider the following statements : I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika. II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver. The above statements have been associated with which of the following ? 1. Emergence of urban life 2. Transition to money economy: Select the answer using the code given below :
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer

C

Explanation

Pali literature records early coin denominations such as kahapana and is supported by archaeological finds of punch-marked coins. The growth of coinage is therefore linked with both the expansion of urban life and the transition toward a money economy.