Which of the following ruling dynasties is generally credited with issuing the first extensive series of gold coins in India?

Introduction / Context:
This question is from ancient Indian economic history and numismatics (the study of coins). Gold coinage reflects a high level of commercial activity, international trade and state control over resources. Several ancient Indian dynasties minted coins, but one of them is especially famous in exam-oriented material for issuing the earliest extensive and well-known series of gold coins in the subcontinent.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks which dynasty introduced gold coins for the first time in India.
• Options include the Kushanas, Guptas, Mauryas and Sakas.
• We assume the conventional view presented in competitive exam books.
• We focus on widely recognised, large-scale gold coinage, not isolated or very rare issues.

Concept / Approach:
While there is scholarly debate about earlier coinage, in standard exam references the Kushanas, particularly under Kanishka and his successors, are credited with issuing some of the earliest and most extensive series of gold coins in India. These coins often depict various deities and carry Greek or Bactrian legends, indicating Indo-Roman and Central Asian trade connections. The Gupta dynasty later produced beautiful gold coins as well, but these come after the Kushanas and therefore are not considered the first. Mauryan coinage was primarily in punch-marked silver and copper, not primarily gold. The Sakas also issued coins, but exam keys usually emphasise the Kushanas when this specific question is asked.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Kushan Empire under Kanishka and others had strong trade links with Central Asia and the Roman world.Step 2: Remember that Kushan rulers issued abundant gold coins with images of deities and inscriptions in Greek or Bactrian scripts.Step 3: Note that the Guptas are famous for their high-quality gold coins, but they appear later in the 4th–5th centuries CE.Step 4: The Mauryas used mainly punch-marked coins and are not typically highlighted for early gold coinage in these MCQs.Step 5: The Sakas also issued coins, but they are not conventionally credited as the first major gold-coin issuers in standard GK summaries.Step 6: Therefore, based on exam convention, select 'The Kushanas' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most competitive exam books and solved papers introduce the Kushanas as the first to issue regular and abundant gold coins in India, and then mention the Gupta gold coins as a later development known for artistic beauty. Questions with this wording regularly have the Kushanas as the key answer. This repetition confirms that the expected exam answer is the Kushana dynasty, even if numismatic research can be more nuanced.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Guptas: They did mint excellent gold coins, but these came after the Kushana series and are not the first in the usual exam sense.The Mauryas: Known more for punch-marked silver and copper coins than for pioneering gold coinage.The Sakas: Issued coins, but exam convention usually singles out the Kushanas for the earliest regular gold coinage.

Common Pitfalls:
A common confusion is between the Kushanas and the Guptas, since both are associated with gold coins in exam syllabi. Students sometimes pick the Guptas because they remember the artistic beauty of Gupta coins and forget the earlier Kushan series. To avoid this, remember: earliest large-scale gold coins – Kushanas; later classical golden coinage with fine art – Guptas.

Final Answer:
The first extensive series of gold coins in India is generally credited to the Kushana dynasty.