Which among the following materials were used for minting coins during the rule of the Mauiyas?

During the Mauryan rule, the primary materials used for minting coins were silver and copper. The most common currency was the silver punch-marked coin known as the 'pana' or 'karshapana' [1]. Kautilya's Arthashastra explicitly mentions the minting of silver coins (Rupyarupa) and copper coins (Tamrarupa). While gold (Suvarnarupa) and lead (Sisarupa) are mentioned in historical texts like the Arthashastra as theoretical or rare denominations, archaeological evidence confirms that the vast majority of Mauryan coinage consisted of silver karshapanas and a smaller number of copper pieces. These coins were typically manufactured by punching symbols like the sun and the six-armed sign onto metal flans. Although gold was known, it was not a standard medium for general circulation during the Mauryan period compared to the ubiquitous silver and copper issues.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > Coins and Currency > p. 59