During the post-Mauryan and Gupta eras, which tribal republic minted silver and copper coins with distinct legends found extensively across the Kumaon region, reflecting autonomous local administration in ancient Uttarakhand?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Kunindas maintained significant political autonomy and issued specialized coinage featuring Brahmi and Kharoshthi legends alongside indigenous religious symbols in the Kumaon and Garhwal sectors. Yaudheyas primarily operated in the Punjab and Haryana plains, while Malavas were centered in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The monetary circulation of Kuninda coins indicates robust commercial interactions with the Gangetic plains and trans-Himalayan trade routes. Numismatic studies confirm that their silver coinage maintained high metallic purity during the early centuries of the common era.