India and South Asia
Due to a lack of written documents, much knowledge of India comes from the study
of its coins. Early coins from Taxila are really punch-marked silver bars. Alexander
the Great influenced Indian coins, which began to copy Greek designs. Islam and the
Persian Mughal Empire entered India after its fragmentation following the Gupta
Dynasty (c. AD 320-c. 647).
Punch-marked silver ingot (600-500 BC).
Saka 4-drachma coin of Azes I (c.
57-c. 35 BC) depicting Zeus with a thunderbolt.
Kushan gold coin of King Kanishka I (c. AD
100-c. 126).
Kushan gold coin of Huvishka I (c. AD 126-164).
Gupta gold commemorative coin of King Samudra
Gupta (AD 335-380) depicting his deceased parents.
Mughal gold rupee struck in the name of Sultan Akbar
(AD 1556-1605).