Question

In the Mauryan administration, the official designated as Rupadarshaka was ____________
A. Examiner of silver and other metals
B. Superintendent of courtesans
C. Manager of stage
D. Examiner of coins

Answer 1

Hint: This particular post has been mentioned in the book Arthashastra which was written by Kautilya. This post was a highly respected one and the person who was appointed had a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders.

Complete answer: The Royal Examiner of Coins was called Rupadarshaka. His job was to examine the acceptability of the coins. Rupadargaka and Rupadargakam names were also given to the post of Royal Examiner of Coins. The term Rupatarka was used by Patanjali.
The manufacturing of coins was a long and delicate process. First of all metal was melted in India (crucibles). After this it was cleaned and purified with ksara (alkalis). The metal was then beaten into sheets on an adhikarani (anvil) and this was done wiha mustika (hammer). Then they were cut and this was done with sandamsa (clippers). After all this they were stamped with dies or punches having symbols (bimbatarika).
The person who would issue the coins on the behalf of the king was known as Laksana Adhyaksa. Kautilya and Panini have mentioned different names of these coins as papa, pada, masa, etc. this system of currency continued till it was replaced by the dinara system.
Option B - Superintendent of Courtesans - The name given to this post was Ganikadhyaksha

Therefore the correct answer is option D.


Note: 321 BCE was the year when the birth of the Mauryan Empire took place. The end of the Mauryan Empire happened by the year 185 BCE. It is considered as the first pan Indian empire, as it was the first empire to cover most of the subcontinent.