First coins in Indian history bearing the names and images of rulers were issued by the:

The Correct answer is Indo-Greeks.

Key Points

• The Indo-Greeks were the first in Indian history to issue coins bearing the names and images of rulers.
• This innovation was an important development in the history of coinage in India.
• Indo-Greek coins were notable for their high artistic quality and Greek inscriptions.
• These coins often featured the portraits of kings on the obverse and various deities on the reverse.
• The introduction of these coins marked a significant cultural exchange between the Greeks and the Indian subcontinent.
• The most famous Indo-Greek ruler was Menander I (Milinda), who ruled in the 2nd century BCE.

 Additional Information

• Mauryas
  • The Maurya Empire (322-185 BCE) was one of the largest empires in the Indian subcontinent.
  • Founded by Chandragupta Maurya, it reached its zenith under Ashoka the Great.
  • The Mauryas issued punch-marked coins, but these did not bear the names and images of rulers.
• Pushyabhutis
  • The Pushyabhuti dynasty, also known as the Vardhana dynasty, ruled parts of northern India during the 6th and 7th centuries CE.
  • The most notable ruler was Harsha, who expanded the empire significantly.
  • They did not introduce coins bearing the names and images of rulers.
• Guptas
  • The Gupta Empire (c. 320-550 CE) is often referred to as the Golden Age of India.
  • Gupta coins are renowned for their artistic excellence and depicted various deities, but they came much later than the Indo-Greeks.
  • Rulers like Chandragupta I and Samudragupta issued coins with their images, continuing the tradition introduced by the Indo-Greeks.