UPSC Mains 2017 · GS I · Q1 · 10 marks · 150 words

How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times ?

हिन्दी में

आप इस विचार को, कि गुप्तकालीन सिक्काशास्त्रीय कला की उत्कृष्टता का स्तर बाद के समय में नितांत दर्शनीय नहीं है, किस प्रकार सही सिद्ध करेंगे ?

Art and CultureAncient India

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Numismatics is a vital tool in deciphering the history of country. Explain the statement in Indian context with suitable examples.”

Swati SharmaAIR 17 · CSE 2023 · 140 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Numismatics is the art of studying coins. The coins are a resemblance of socio-political context of a particular period.

NUMISMATICS, hence, HELP IN DECIPHERING HISTORY

Body

  1. They help to understand the resource availability of nations eg - Indus valley coins coins made of gold during Kushanas, Guptas declined during Satrahanas phase

  2. They help in understanding the trade activities of the country

eg - Roman coins were found in kingdom of Cholas and pandyas.

iii) They help set the background of social life

eg - showing of Veena playing by samudragupta on Gupta coins shows rich culture of music

iv) They help generate artifacts about types of political environment

v) They can aid in understanding the religious conditions

Close

eg - Mughal coins - no depiction of human forms

Hence, numismatics help to generate framework to understand history of a country.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Q1. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.