After defeating the Shakas, coins of which metal were introduced by Chandragupta II?

Question

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Correct — B, Silver. After defeating the Western Kshatrapa (Shaka) rulers of Gujarat-Malwa-Saurashtra (c. late 4th / early 5th century CE), Chandragupta II annexed their territory and began issuing silver coins there in the Kshatrapa style — his own bust and legend replacing the satrap's — because silver, not gold, was the region's established currency metal. His silver coins are treated by historians as the strongest numismatic evidence of this conquest.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) The Guptas are famous for gold coins ('dinara', on the Kushan weight standard) — but that gold tradition predates this conquest; the coinage specifically introduced after the Shaka victory was silver, continuing the region's own currency.  (c) Gupta copper coinage was minor and localised, not the coinage associated with the Shaka conquest.  (d) Not a standard Gupta coinage metal, and not linked to the Shaka-conquest coinage.

Concept: Gupta emperors from Chandragupta I onward struck gold coins (dinara) modelled on Kushan prototypes, showing the king in poses such as archer or tiger-slayer. When Chandragupta II defeated the Western Kshatrapas — Shaka satraps who had ruled Gujarat-Saurashtra-Malwa for centuries on their own long-running silver-coin tradition — he did not simply extend gold coinage there; he issued silver coins imitating the Kshatrapa format, continuing the region's existing currency for smoother administration and trade.

State PCS 2023 Q70 — History PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q70 — History PYQ with Answer