Correct Option
The correct option is Mint of the East India Company.
Explanation
James Prinsep was a seminal figure in the field of Indian epigraphy and numismatics. His most significant contribution was the decipherment of the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts, which unlocked the history of the Mauryan Empire and Emperor Ashoka.
Detailed Analysis
- Archaeological Survey of India is Incorrect: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was established in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham. James Prinsep died in 1840, well before the institutional formation of the ASI.
- Mint of the East India Company is Correct: James Prinsep was an official of the East India Company. He served professionally as the Assay Master at the Calcutta Mint. It was during his service in the Mint that he analyzed coins and inscriptions, leading to his historical breakthroughs.
- Asiatic Society of Bengal is Incorrect: While Prinsep was the Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the founding editor of its journal, his primary official employment was with the Mint. The Asiatic Society was a scholarly body, not his employer in the capacity of an "officer."
- British Indian Army is Incorrect: Prinsep was a civil administrator and scholar, not a military officer in the British Indian Army.
Key Takeaway
James Prinsep, an officer in the East India Company's Mint, deciphered the Ashokan Brahmi script in 1837, successfully identifying the epithet "Devanampiya Piyadassi" with Emperor Ashoka.