The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c11.s10: Copper Coinage of Chandragupta II

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c11.s10

Language: English

Copper Coinage of Chandragupta II

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Among the Gupta kings, only Chandragupta II can perhaps be said to have attempted to start a regular copper currency. Very few copper coins of Rāmagupta and Kumāragupta I are known and none whatever of any other Gupta emperor.¹ Harigupta, who is known from a single copper piece, does not appear to have belonged to the Imperial Gupta family.

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¹ About the alleged copper coinage of Samudragupta, see *ante*, p. 40.

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The phenomenon of the extreme rarity of the copper coinage clearly shows that ordinary daily small transactions were carried on with the help of barter or cowries. The Chinese piligrim Fa Hian could see only cowries in the bazars of Pātaliputra on the few occasions he passed through or visited them. In the Gupta period things were about seven times cheaper than what they were in 1930, when there was a world-wide slump in prices. The normal Gupta gold coin, weighing about 2/3 of a tola, was thus something like a two hundred rupee note as far as the purchasing power was concerned. It could therefore have hardly ever figured in the ordinary day-to-day financial transactions.

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The copper coinage of Chandragupta is fairly original; it imitates neither the Kushāṇa issues nor the cast copper types that were earlier current in the Gangetic plain, nor any of the motifs current on the Kauśāmbī or Ayodhyā coinage. Its usual reverse, Garuḍa above and the legend below, is original. The obverse of the Chhatra and the Archer types are obvious imitations of the same types in gold. The bust type obverse may perhaps have been suggested by the usual type of Huvishka in gold. The Chakra type is original and may perhaps refer to the Vaiṣṇava persuasion of the issuer.

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The relative rarity of the copper coins of Chandragupta 11 is probably due to their not being carefully preserved in hoards as was the case with the gold issues. The excavations in Pāṭaliputra at Kumrahar have led to the discovery of 11 copper coins of this ruler, showing that his copper currency, if not extensive as that of the Kushāṇas, was not quite scarce.

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We shall now mention the different types of the copper coinage of Chandragupta II. We shall first describe each type or its varieties and then make a few remarks, if necessary.

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 12

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Variety A

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(Garuḍa with human hands)¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 2-3; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 139, Pl. IV. 9.

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(1) Copper; 85"; 57.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 2. *Obv:* King standing left,² bare-headed, with a dwarf attendant behind him holding state umbrella, decorated with streamers. Attendant blurred; king's figure graceful. *Rev:* In the upper half Garuḍa with human face and hands but with bird's body and outstretched wings, standing facing, wearing bracelets on arms. In the lower half, the legend, *Mahārāja-śrī-Chandraguptaḥ*, (Pl. XXI. 13) partly blurred. (Pl. XVI. 8)

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² It has been suggested that the king may be offering incense on altar as on gold coins (*B.M.C., G.D.*, p. 52); but as his right hand is sharply raised up, this does not appear to be probable.

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(2) Copper; .85"; 57.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 3. *Obv:* Attendant partly off the flan; king's figure is crude. *Rev:* Legend partly blurred (*Mahārāja*-śrī-Chandraga. (Pl. XVI. 9)

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Variety B

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(Garuḍa without human hands)

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(3) Copper; .75"; 64.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 4. *Obv:* As above, but the attendant is on the flan.

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*Rev:* Garuḍa has no human hands. Legend is the same, but only *haraja-Chandra* is visible.

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Four coins of this class have so far been noticed. One of them was purchased at the bazar of Pānipat and a second one was acquired at Jaunpur. The known weight of the four different coins were 101, 75, 64 and 47 grains. It is likely tha the unit in this class may have been of 100 grains or 56 *rattis*.

Standing King Type

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 5-9.

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(4) Copper; .65"; 53.7 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 7. *Obv:* King standing l. with r. hand raised up.² *Rev:* As in Chhatra type variety B, Garuḍa having no human arms. *Śrī-Chandraguptaḥ*, partly blurred. (Pl. XVI. 11)

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² On some coins he seems to be holding a flower and on some, to be offering oblations.

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The legend is shortened on small coins by omitting the title *Mahārāja*. The size of the coins usually varies from .5" to .65". About 23 coins of this type have been so far noticed, six being found in Kumrahar excavations, 1951-54. Their weights vary so widely without apparently any fixed principle, that it is difficult to determine the different denominations in this class. It is likely that the lighter coins weighing between 18 and 25 grains formed one denomination, and those weighing between 44 and 54 grains formed another.

Archer Type

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(5) Copper; .8"; 84.3 grains; *J.A.S.B.*, 1933, N. 12. *Obv:* King nimbate standing to l. holding bow in l. hand and arrow in r. *Chandra* under the l. arm. Traces of the circular legend.

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*Rev:* Lakshmi seated on lotus, with noose in outstretched r. hand and lotus in l. resting on knee. Legend; *Sri-Vikramaḥ* on the right.

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Only one coin of this type is known so far. It exactly corresponds to the Archer type, class II of Chandragupta II; (see Pl. IV. 13-14).

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It is probably a freak issue, the die for the gold coin being used for the copper coinage by mistake. The coin was found at Rājgir.

Bust Type

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Variety A

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( Large size )¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. X. 22; *J.A.S.B.* 1894, i, pp. 173-4; Pl. VI. XI.; *C.M.I.*, p. 15, Pl. II. 8.

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(6) Copper; .9"; 87 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. X. 22. *Obv:* Bust of king to l. wearing necklace, ear-rings and armlets and holding flower in uplifted r. hand. *Rev:* In the upper half Garuḍa, nimbate, standing facing with outstretched wings. In the lower half, legend probably *Mahārāja-Chandraguptaḥ* but quite illegible. (Pl. XVI. 13)

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One of the two known coins of variety A was found at Ahichchhatrā and the other in Jhelam district. The obverse appears to be in imitation of the gold coins of Huvishka, where we have a bust of the king holding an ear of corn in his hand. Cunningham’s view that the obverse is that of a female is untenable.

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Copper coins do not travel long and the findspot of some coins of this and the next variety of this class would tend to show that the South-Eastern Punjab was included in Chandragupta’s dominions.

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( Small size )¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, XI, 10; *J.A.S.B.*, 1889, p. 140, Pl. IV. 2; *P.E.*, Pl. XXX. 13.

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(7) Copper; .75"; 44 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 10. *Obv*: As in variety A, but bust is half-length and in the upper half of the coin only; legend, *Śrī-Vikramāditya* is in the lower half; last letter is off the flan on this specimen. *Rev*: In the upper half, Garuḍa as in variety A. In the lower half, *Śrī-Chandraguptaḥ*., only first two letters being visible on this specimen. (Pl. XVI. 14)

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Only three coins of this class have been so far noticed; the weights of only two of them are recorded. They are 40.5 and 44 grains respectively. Two of the coins belonged to the Stacy and Swiney collections and may therefore be presumed to have been obtained from the Punjab.

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The breasts of the bust on the coin in the Stacy collections are very prominent; this circumstance induced Thomas to state that it was that of a female. The usual numismatic practice makes it clear, however, that the bust should be that of the king.

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Variety C

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(No legend on obverse)²

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² *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 11; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 140; Pl. IV. 13.

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(8) Copper; .6"; 40.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 11. *Obv*: Bust of king as above, but without any legend below. *Rev*: Garuḍa as above, but standing on an altar and holding a snake in his mouth; border of dots. Legend *Chandragupta(ḥ)*. (Pl. XVI. 15)

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Variety D (As above, but no altar for Garuḍa)¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 12; *P.E.*, Pl. XXX. 15.

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(9) Copper; .65"; 27 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 12. *Obv:* As above. *Rev:* As above, but no altar under Garuḍa. Legend [*Śri-Cha*]ndragu(*pta*). (Pl. XVI. 16)

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Variety E (King without flower)²

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(10) Copper; .55"; 28 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 14. *Obv:* As above, but king has no flower. *Rev:* Garuḍa indistinct and almost off the flan; below, Chandraguptaḥ. (Pl. XVI. 17)

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This is the most common type of the copper coins of Chandragupta II. On smaller coins, there is only the head instead of the bust. The size and weight of the coins of this variety vary from .35" to .55" and 4.² to 28 grains. Most of the coins of this type are very poorly preserved and their weight so gradually varying that it is difficult to determine the denominations. Five coins of this variety were found in Kumrahar excavations, 1951-4.

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² *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 13-19; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, pp. 141-2, Pl. IV. 14.

Chakra Type

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(11) Copper; .4"; 8.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XI. 20. *Obv:* In the upper half, *chakra* or wheel, in the lower half *Chandra*, rather blurred. *Rev:* In the upper half, Garuḍa; in the lower half *Gupta*. (Pl. XVI. 18)

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The coins of this type are rare. Mr. Allan has obversed that the obverse of this type is entirely covered with the legend in two lines, (p. cxxxviii), but what he takes to be the letter *Śri-* is obviously a wheel, as in clear from the photograph in the *B.M.C., G.D.*, which is reproduced here.

Vase Type

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¹ *B.M.C. G.D.*, Pl. XI. 21-26; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 143; *J.R.A.S.*, 1894, p. 143, Pl. IV. 16.

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*Obv:* Within dotted border *Chandra* surmounted by a crescent. *Rev:* Within dotted border, *kalaśa* or vase, with flowers hanging down from its edge. (Pl. XVI. 19)

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Coins of this type are very tiny; many of them weigh under 10 grains and one is as light as 3.3 grains. As this type differs considerably from the other coins of Chandragupta II, Smith was inclined to think that they may have been issued by king Chandra of Mehrauli pillar inscription.² It is unfortunate that the findspot of the coins of this type are not recorded. It appears most likely that the coins were issued by Chandragupta II himself, the type being a copy of one of the types of the coinage of the Mālava-*gaṇa* (republic) current in Mālwa,³ which had the legend on one side and the *kalaśa* (vase) on the other. This type was most probably posterior to the conquest of Mālwa and may have been confined to that province. In the absence of a definite knowledge of the provenance, no definite theory can, however, be confidently proposed.

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² *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 144. It now appears very probable that king Chandra of the above record is Chandragupta II himself.

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³ *I.M.C.*, Pl. XX. 15.

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Gupta