Nhận biết (M1)

An analysis by Alain Elayi and colleagues of coins minted in Sidon in the fifth and fourth centuries BCE reveals a change in their composition over time: while a coin from circa 450 BCE contains about 98% silver and 1% copper, a coin from 367 BCE (the end of Ba'alsillem II's reign) contains 74.2% silver and 24.7% copper, giving it a relatively yellowish appearance that traders would have noticed. Because coins with a silver content below 80% were widely considered unsuitable for trade, Elayi et al. speculate that a crisis in confidence in the currency occurred in Sidon around 367 BCE, which was likely relieved—despite Sidon's persistent oppressive financial obligations—as a result of Ba'alsillem II's successor Abd'astart I's decision to _______

Which choice most logically completes the text?

• A.

  keep the amount of silver in Sidonian coins consistent with that in coins minted in 367 BCE but decrease their weight.

• B.

  proclaim that the percentage of silver in coins suitable for trade would be raised to a threshold higher than 80%.

• C.

  fund the mining of some copper deposits that were not available to Ba'alsillem II.

• D.

  begin minting heavier coins with a proportion of silver to copper similar to that in coins minted in 367 BCE.