The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c11.s2: Lion-Slayer Type

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c11.s2

Language: English

Lion-Slayer Type

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The coins of the Lion-slayer type are not quite rare, but owing to their high artistic merit, they are in great demand. In the Bayana hoard, out of 983 coins of Chandragupta II, 43 belonged to this type. The British Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, the Indian Museum and the Lucknow Museum possess 13,3,10 and 16 specimens respectively of this type. The size of the coins varies from .75" to 85". Vast majority of them are issued to the standard of 121 grains, but a few weigh 124 grains and fewer still 127 grains. One piece in the Bayana hoard weighs as high as 136.5 grains. The coins are known to have been found at Jaunpur, Kotwa, Mirzapur, Kanauj and Bayana.

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In the Lion-slayer type,¹ on the obverse the king is usually shown as attacking the lion, generally by bow and arrow, but sometimes by the sword as well. The two are sometimes shown apart, but pitted against each other; in many cases, however, the king is shown as trampling the lion on his belly. On the reverse there is goddess seated on lion. Her mount would suggest that she is intended to be Durgā, but usually she is also shown as holding a lotus in her left hand; so the intention of representing her as Lakshmi cannot be altogether excluded. Her right hand usually holds a noose but in some cases it is empty. The mount of the goddess is sometimes seated couchant and sometimes walking either to right or to left.

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¹ Lion-hunter type may perhaps be a better designation, but the name Lion-slayer is now in long vogue and has therefore been retained. The main idea of course was to represent the king as attacking and slaying the lion; hence Lion-slayer also is not quite an unsuitable phrase.

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To classify the coins of the Lion-slayer type is not easy. Smith had divided them into three classes, class I, Lion-combatant type, where the king and the Lion are pitted against each other, class II, Lion-trampler type, where the king is trampling upon the lion and class III, Lion-retreating type, where the beast is shown as retreating away from the king. We think this classification fairly satisfactory and have followed it in this work. In *B.M.C., G.D.*, coins have been classified according to legends. But the vast majority of the coins have one and the same legend—*Narendrachandraḥ prathitaraṇo raṇe jayatyajeyo bhuvi siṃhavikramaḥ*. Most of them fall in one and the same class. This classification is therefore not quite satisfactory. There can be no doubt that the king is deliberately shown on some coins as trampling upon the ferocious beast in order to emphasise his reckless courage; it is but meet that these coins should be constituted into a different class. Similarly the motif, the Retreating Lion, is so striking that we would be perfectly justified in constituting the coins of this category into a separate class. The remaining coins, where the king and the lion face each other, naturally form a different class, usually called Lion-combatant.

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LION-COMBATANT TYPE

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The varieties in the attitudes of the king and the lion on the obverse, and in the attributes of the goddess on the reverse and the positions of her mount are so numerous that it is difficult to think of any criteria of the classification of varieties that may not involve some overlapping. For the sake of convenience, we have first divided the coins according as the king is to right or left, and then subdivided them further. In variety A, (Pl. VI. 1-3, VII. 10) the king is facing left and the goddess on the reverse is seated on a couchant lion, holding noose in the r. hand and lotus in the l. Variety B (Pl. VI. 4), is represented by a unique coin; its obverse resembles that of the variety A, but the name of the king is also written perpendicularly in the field to the right of his left hand. The lotus on the reverse has a long stalk which becomes twisted in the middle, as the goddess holds it by her left hand resting akimbo. In these varieties the king strings the bow by the l. hand. This is rather unusual; the artist may have desired to show His Majesty as ambidextrous, or he may have, in his desire to produce a different positional effect, ignored the circumstance of the king stretching the bow by the left hand. In varieties C and D, the king faces right and strings the bow by the right hand. The goddess in variety C (Pl. VI. 5), holds a noose in the right and a lotus in the left hand as in varieties A and B. In variety D (Pl. VI. 6), the right hand of the goddess is empty. In variety E (Pl. XIX. 1), which is represented by a single coin in the Bayana hoard, the king faces right, but does not string the bow at all; he merely holds it in his left hand, an arrow being in his right. The right hand of the goddess is empty as in variety D. The coins of the varieties B, C and D will undoubtedly rank among the best specimens of the numismatic art of ancient India. The grace of the muscular body of the king has been fully brought out.

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LION-TRAMPLER TYPE

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In four varieties of this class A-D, the king is facing left, in six varieties E-J, he is facing right. The coins show a great diversity in the motif on the reverse; the varieties are therefore distinguished with reference to the attributes of the goddess on the reverse and the posture of her mount. In variety A (Pl. VI. 7), the goddess is seated facing on lion couchant to left; she holds a noose in her right hand and a lotus in the left. In variety B (Pl. VI. 8), the goddess is seated to left astride her mount; she has a lotus in her right hand and the left one is hanging empty by her side. In varieties C and D, the lion is walking to r. and the legend is different from the usual one; in variety C (Pl. VI. 9), it is incomplete and seems to have been Mahārājādhirāja-Śrī-Chandraguptaḥ. In variety D (Pl. VI. 10), this legend is prefixed by the king’s favourite name, Deva.

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In varieties E to J, the king is facing right. In variety E (Pl. VI. 11), lion is couchant to left and the goddess is sitting with both her legs hanging down; she has a noose in the r. hand and a cornucopiæ in the left. In variety F (Pl. VI. 12), the feet of the goddess are folded on the back of the couchant lion; her right hand is opened out and empty and the left one holds a lotus. In variety G (Pl. VI. 13), the goddess is seated astride the lion, her right hand holding a lotus and the left one hanging down empty by her side.

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In varieties H and I the mount of the goddess is walking to left and right respectively. There are however a number of further peculiarities worth noting. Thus in variety H (Pl. VI. 14-15, VII. 1), on some coins the goddess is facing left, as does her walking mount (Pl. VI. 15; VII. 1), but in others she sits facing, but looks to left (Pl. VI. 14). Her legs are usually folded but in one case, one of them (Pl. VII. 1) is dangling down over the head of her mount. She holds a noose in the right hand and a lotus in the left in all cases. The coins of the variety I (Pl. VII. 2-3), are large in size and would rank among the best specimens of the numismatic art. The grim determination and tense action of the king engaged in the deadly game are successfully portrayed by the artist. The lion on the reverse is walking to right, but the goddess sits to front with her legs folded, sometimes looking to right (Pl. VII. 3) and sometimes to front (Pl. VII. 2).

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Variety J (Pl. VII. 4) differs from varieties A to I on account of its different obverse legend. It has not been completely read but seems to have been: *Narendrasiṃha-Candraguptaḥ pṛthivīṃ jitvā divaṃ jayati*. The r. hand of the goddess on the reverse is empty and her l. hand holds a lotus. Her mount is couchant to left.

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LION-RETREATING TYPE

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Class III, the Lion-retreating type, is known from very few specimens. In varieties A and B (Pl. VII. 5-6), the king is to left; he is holding the bow in the right hand and the arrow in the l.; the former is not shown being strung. In variety A, the mount lion is couchant, in variety B, it is walking to right. In varieties C and D, the king is to right; in the former (Pl. VII. 7), he is stringing the bow to attack the beast; in the latter (Pl. VII. 9), he is charging it with a sword. Variety E (Pl. VII. 8) is like variety C, but the king is defiantly kicking at the retreating lion.

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We now proceed to give a full description of the three classes.

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CLASS I

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(Lion-Combatant)

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Obv: King standing l. or r. and usually shooting an arrow at the lion at point blank range; bow in l. or r. hand, r. or l. hand stretching the bow-string. King is almost touching the lion but not trampling upon it. He wears waist-cloth and sash; he is bare-headed in some cases and wears an ornamental close-fitting head-dress in others. In some cases, he wears a coat, in others, he is bare-bodied.

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Legend, *Narendrachandraḥ prathitaraṇo raṇe jayatyajeyo bhuvi siṃhavikramaḥ* (Pl. XXI. 17), ‘The moon among the kings, who is famous for his warfare, who is invincible, and who is valorous like a lion, is victorious on the battle-field.’ Metre *Vaṃśasthavila*.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated facing on lion to r. usually with a noose in outstretched r. hand and a lotus in l. Symbol on 1. Legend: *Siṃhavikramaḥ*.,¹ Pl. XXIII. 54.

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¹ Hoernle had read the reverse legend as *Siṃhaghnābhijña* on one specimen (*J.A.S.B.*, Vol. LIX., Pt. I., Pl. 5). The plate, however does not justify the reading. It is doubtful whether this legend occurs on any type. See *J.R.A.S.*, 1893, p. 112.

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*N.B.* For a long time, the letters *raṇo raṇe* could not be read on any specimen. The first of these words was restored by Mr. Allan from its traces on a coin published by him in *N. Ch.*, 1935, p. 234. On two coins in the Bayana hoard, both the words *raṇo* and *raṇe* are quite distinct.

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CLASS II

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(Lion-Trampler)

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*Obv:* King standing to r. or l. wearing *dhotī* and sash, and coat also in some cases; turban is on the head in some cases and the usual jewelry on his person; he tramples the lion on the belly by one foot and shoots an arrow at it by a bow held in l. or r. hand; r. or l. hand stretching the bow-string as in class I. Circular legend, commencing at I, is usually the same in most varieties, *Narendrachandraḥ prathitaraṇo raṇe jayatyajeyo bhuvi siṃhavikramaḥ*; in some varieties it is different.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated, nimbate, on lion couchant, or walking to r. or l., holding noose, lotus or cornucopiæ in her hands; sometimes l. hand is empty and hanging by her side; sometimes r. hand is opened out and empty. Symbol usually on l., except in a few cases. Legend: *Siṃhavikramaḥ*.

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(Lion-retreating type)

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*Obv*: King standing l. or r. wearing waist-cloth and jewelry, sometimes holding bow in r. hand and arrow in l., sometimes discharging arrow against the lion, sometimes attacking him with sword, and sometimes merely looking at it. Legend sometimes, *Mahārājādhirāja-Śrī-Chandraguptaḥ*, sometimes, *Devaśrīmahārāja*... etc. (Pl. XX. 12) and sometimes, *Narendrachandraḥ* etc.

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*Rev*: Goddess seated facing on lion, couchant or walking, holding noose in r. hand and lotus in l. Symbol on the left. Legend, sometimes prefixed with *Śrī*, *Siṃhavikramaḥ*.

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 6

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CLASS I

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(Lion-combtant)

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Variety A

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( King to l. )¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., IX. 5.

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(1) Gold; .8"; 118.7 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVI. 12.

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*Obv*: The king’s r. foot is just away from the lion and the left one is raised up, as if to jump away if necessary. King wears coat and trousers; coat buttons are prominent. Circular legend beginning at I, *Narendrachandra pratharaṇa raṇe*. The last four letters are quite clear, and conclusively determine the full reading of this legend.

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*Rev*: Lion couchant to l., and one foot of the goddess is half hanging down; noose in r. hand and lotus in l., resting on thigh. Legend, *...ṅhavakrama*. (Pl. VI. 1.)

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*Obv:* As above; coat buttons blurred. Circular legend. ..ndrachandra prathataraṇaraṇe. *Rev:* As above; .ṅhavikrama.

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(Pl. VI. 2.)

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(3) Gold; .85"; 121.2 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. IX. 3. *Obv:* The lion is almost fully on the flan and the king's l. hand is almost in its jaw. King wears a half-sleeved coat and he is anticipating a jump, if necessary. Legend at X, Siṅhavakrama, truncated. *Rev:* Goddess, as above, but her l. arm is stretched out and holds a noose.

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(Pl. VI. 3.)

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(4) Gold; .9"; 125.5 grains; Bodleian Collection; *N.Ch.*, 1891, Pl. II. 10. *Obv:* King's r. foot is touching the lion but not trampling upon it. He wears a short-sleeved coat and a turban with a crest. Legend from I., *Nara.*, from VI *jayatya-jeyo bhuvi siṅhavikramaḥ*. The last half of the legend is almost entirely preserved on this coin. *Rev:* Goddess seated facing on lion couchant to r., noose in r. hand lotus in l. Symbol, blurred. Legend, Siṅhavikrama.

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(Pl. VII. 10.)

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Variety B

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(With *Chandra* in field)

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(5) Gold; .85"; 119 grains; *J.A.S.B.*, 1923, N.S., Pl. III. 7. *Obv:* King dressed as above; lion nearly full on the flan; *Chandra* written perpendicularly in the field on r. Circular legend off the flan. *Rev:* Goddess as above, but the long stalk of the lotus in her l. hand is twisted in the middle. Legend, .ṅhava-krama.

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(King to r., goddess with noose and lotus)¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. IX. 9.

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(6) Gold; .8"; 119.² grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVI. 14. *Obv*: King faces r. and is bare-bodied; crest on his forehead. Legend, at I, *Na*, at VII, *yya bhuvi siṃhavikramaḥ*, partly truncated. *Rev*: As above, but the lotus stalk is not twisted in the middle. Circular pearl ornament round the head is distinct. (Pl. VI. 5.)

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Variety D

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(As above, but r. hand of goddess is empty)²

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² B. M. C.,G. D., Pl. IX. 7-8.

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(7) Gold; .8"; 119.8 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVII. 6. *Obv*: As above, king’s bare body is muscular and graceful. Legend at I,...*rendra*. *dra* (truncated); at IX, *tya* (truncated). *Rev*: As above, but r. hand of the goddess is opened out and empty, symbol almost in touch with it. Legend, Siṃhavakra, truncated. (Pl. VI. 6.)

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Variety E

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(As above, but king not stringing the bow)

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(8) Gold; .8"; 123 grains; *B.H.*, XVII. 10. *Obv*: King as above, holding bow in l. hand; r. hand holding an arrow and resting on hip. Legend at I, *Na-randrachandra*; faint traces of truncated *tya.yyabhu*. *sa* on r. *Rev*: R. leg of the goddess hanging down the lion’s back; r. hand opened out and empty and l. hand holding lotus. Legend, *.ṅhavakrama*. (Pl. XIX. 1.)

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( LION-TRAMPLING )

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(King to l. and goddess seated with legs folded up)¹

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¹ *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. VIII. 13; *N.Ch.*, 1910, Pl. XXIV. 12.

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(9) Gold; .75"; 117 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVII. 13.

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*Obv*: King to l., wearing coat and head-dress, with a string of pearls hanging behind. Lion is only partly visible and the king tramples him by r. foot. Legend at II, *Narandrachandrapra*, at X, *ṅhavakrama*, blurred and truncated.

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*Rev*: Lion couchant to r., and goddess seated facing with both her legs folded up; noose in r. hand and cornucopiæ in l. Symbol having the base line of seven dots is peculiar. Legend, *Siṅhavikrama*.

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( Pl. VI. 7. )

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Variety B

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(As above, but goddess seated astride)

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(10) Gold .75"; 120.7 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVII. 11.

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*Obv*: King as above, his r. foot is in close contact with the lion and the l. one is trampling upon his tail. Faint traces of truncated letters at III and between IX and XII.

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*Rev*: Goddess seated l. astride on lion to l. who raises up its head. She holds lotus in r. hand, and the l. one is empty and hanging down by her side and resting on the haunch of the mount. No symbol, flower in the hand of the goddess occupying its usual place. Legend, complete, *Siṅhavikrama*.

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( Pl. VI. 8. )

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Variety C

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(As above, but lion walking to r, different legend)

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(11) Gold; .8"; 121 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVII. 12.

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*Obv*: King’s figure is tall and he wears a cap, his r. foot is firmly planted on the lion’s belly and the l. one treads upon his tail. Lion full on the flan. Legend, at I, *Maha* at IV, *dhara*, between X and XI, *Chandragupta*, blurred and truncated. Full legend was probably *Mahārājā-dhirāja-Śrī-Chandraguptaḥ*.

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*Rev*: Lion is walking to r., but the goddess is seated with her legs folded up and facing to front. Noose in r. hand and lotus in l. Legend, *Saṅhavikramaḥ*.

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(Pl. VI. 9.)

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Variety D

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(As above, but with a larger legend)

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(12) Gold; .85"; 122.3 grains; *B.H.* Pl. XVII. 14.

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*Obv*: King’s figure is tall, he wears a crest on his forehead. His r. foot is planted upon the lion’s belly and the l. foot treads upon his tail. Legend from I, *Deva-Śrī-mahara*, between IX and XII, *Śrī-Chandragupta*, partly blurred.

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*Rev*: As above. Legend, *Siṅhavikramaḥ*.

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(Pl. VI. 10.)

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Variety E

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(King to r.; goddess with noose and cornucopiae)¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. VIII. 11-12; *J.A.S.B.*, 1884, i, Pl. III. 6; *J. R. A.S.*, 1889, Pl. II. 5.

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(13) Gold; .75"; 118.6 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVIII. 1.

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*Obv*: King to r. wearing coat and shorts; his l. foot is planted between lion’s hind legs, and r. one is raised; lion is collapsing. Legend from II, *.ndra-chandra-pratha*; faint traces of letters on r.

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*Rev*: Goddess seated facing on lion couchant to l., both her legs hanging down; noose in her r. hand and cornucopiæ in l. Legend, *.ṅhavikrama*.

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(Pl. VI. 11.)

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(As above, but lotus in l. hand and r. hand empty)¹

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(14) Gold; .75"; 122.¹ grains; *B.H.* Pl. XVIII. 14. *Obv:* As above. Legend at I., *Narandrachandrapratha*, blurred, and the bow cuts across the subscripts of the two *ndras*. Lion is collapsing. *Rev:* As above, but the goddess has folded her feet above the lion's back and her r. hand is opened out and empty. Legend, *Saṅhavikramaḥ*.

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. VIII. 14-15; *A.A.*, Pl. XVIII. 5; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, Pl. 11. 4; *J.A.S.B.*, 1884, i,. Pl. III. 5.

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(Pl. VI. 12.)

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Variety G

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(As above, but goddess seated astride)²

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² *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. IX. 1-2.

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(15) Gold; .8"; 118.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. IX. 1. *Obv:* Arrow piercing right into the jaw of the lion is clearly visible. Lion tries to snatch at the bow by his fore paw. Legend at XI, *Narandrachandra*. *Rev:* Goddess seated astride on lion to r., holding lotus in r. hand, which ousts the usual symbol; left hand hanging down empty by her side. Legend, *Siṅhavikramaḥ*.

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(Pl. VI. 13.)

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Variety H

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(As above, but lion walking to l.)

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(16) Gold; .8"; 118.6 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVIII.8. *Obv:* King's hair is tied in a knot at the top and he tramples the lion by his l. foot. The beast is collapsing. Legend at I, *Nara*; faint traces of truncated letters, between IX and XI. *Rev:* Lion is walking to l., and goddess is seated upon him to front, but is looking to l.; both legs are folded up.

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Noose in r. hand and lotus in l., which is akimbo. No symbol. Legend, Saṁhavikramaḥ.

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(17) Gold; .8"; 119.6 grains; B.H., Pl. XVIII.7.

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*Obv:* King as above. Legend at XII, *Narandracha*, faint traces of letters between IX and X; *bhu* at IX, *ma* at XI.

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*Rev:* As above, but goddess is seated to l. with both her legs folded; she holds noose in r. hand and lotus with long stalk in l., resting on her waist. Symbol indistinct. Legend, *Saṁ(h)vikramaḥ*.

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(Pl. VI. 15.)

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(18) Gold; .8"; 119.6 grains; B.H., Pl. XVIII.9.

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*Obv:* As above, but the lion is almost falling on the ground. Legend at XII, *Narendrachandra prathatara*; faint traces of letters at X.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated as above on lion walking to l., but her r. leg is slightly raised up and the l. one is dangling over the walking beast's head. She wears a cap with a crest of pearls at the top. No symbol. *Saṁhavikramaḥ*.

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(Pl. VII. 1.)

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Variety I

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(Lion walking to r.)¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. VIII. 16.

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(19) Gold; .95"; 120.4 grains; I.M.C., Vol. I, Pl. XII. 17.

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*Obv:* As above; tense action and grim determination of the king are very realistically portrayed by the artist on this and the next two pieces. Legend from XII, *Nararendrachandra pra*, truncated; at VIII, *yabhuvasa*.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated to front, with both her legs folded up, on lion walking to r. and holding noose in r. hand and lotus with long stalk in l. resting on hip. Legend, *Siṃhavikramaḥ*.

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(20) Gold; .95"; weight not known;¹ *B. M. C.*, *G. D.*, Pl. VIII.17. *Obv*: As above; legend from XII, *Narendrachandra prathitara. raṇ ejatyaja*, the last four letters are between VI and VII. *Rev*: Goddess seated as above, but she is looking to r.; noose in r. hand and lotus in l. Legend, *Siṃhavikrama*. (Pl. VII. 3.)

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Variety J

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(With a different legend)

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(21) Gold; .85"; 127.4 grains; *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. IX. 10. *Obv*: King, bare-bodied, standing to r., and trampling upon and shooting at the lion which is collapsing. Legend not completely read but is conjectuarally restored by Mr. Allan as *Narendrasiṃhaḥ. Chandraguptaḥ pṛthivīṃ jitvā divaṃ jayati*. ‘Chandragupta, a lion among kings, having conquered the earth, wins the heaven.’ Of this legend we can read from I *ndrasaha Chandragupta*, the last letter being at V; at IX traces of *tva* and *da*. *Rev*: Goddess seated facing on lion couchant to l., with head turned back; she holds lotus in uplifted l. hand, and r. hand is opened out and empty. A symbol just above it, somewhat resembling a *kalaśa* (jar).² Legend *Siṃhachandraḥ*. (Pl. VII. 4.)

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1. This beautiful piece is known only from its plaster cast.
2. It is not possible to aver that the goddess is holding a *kalaśa* (water pot) in her r. hand. The symbol no doubt looks like a *kalaśa* and is almost touching the r. hand; but the way in which it is opened out shows that it could not have been holding a *kalaśa*.

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(LION-RETREATING)

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(King to l. and lion couchant)

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(22) Gold; .95"; 123 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. IX. 11.

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*Obv:* King standing to l., tall and majestic, bare-bodied and wearing a *jānghiā*, armlets and wristlets on his person, holding bow in r. hand and arrow in the l. and looking at the lion retreating in his front. Full legend beginning at XII, *Mahārājādhirāja-Śrī-Chandra-guptaḥ*; but the last four letters are off the flan.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated facing on lion couchant to r.; her r. leg folded up, l. one hanging down; noose in r. hand stretched out, and lotus in l. resting on waist. A line between the goddess and the legend on r., *Śrisiṃha-vikramaḥ*. Symbol on l. (Pl. VII. 5.)

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Variety B

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(As above, but lion walking to r.)¹

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¹ *N. Ch.*, 1910. Pl. XIV. 13.

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(23) Gold; .8"; 122 grains; Lucknow Museum; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. IX. 12.

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*Obv:* As above. Legend from I, *Devaśrīmahārājadhara*, at X *Chandraguptaḥ* standing for *Devaśrī-mahārājādhirāja-Śrī-Chandraguptaḥ*.

c11.s2.132

*Rev:* Lion walking to r. and goddess seated on him facing, with noose in r. hand and lotus in l. bent and turned up. Symbol on l. Legend, *Siṃhavikramaḥ*. (Pl. VII. 6.)

c11.s2.133

Variety C

c11.s2.134

(King to r. and charging with bow)

c11.s2.135

(24) Gold; .75"; 119.6 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XVIII. 10.

c11.s2.136

*Obv:* King to r. charging with bow and arrow the retreating lion which is apparently turning back its head to counter-attack. King's l. foot is planted on the ground, and the r. one is raised; apparently he wears a peculiar shoe nailed along its bottom. Circular legend on r., blurred on l. where we can read traces of *jayatyajeya*.