The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c11.s6.7

c11.s6.7

The legend under the arm of the king is clearly *Chandra*; only *Cha* has become double owing to the slipping of the die. On the reverse we have *Śrī-vikramaḥ* also quite indisputably. The coin therefore has to be attributed to Chandragupta II, who had first assumed this title. At any rate there is so far no evidence to show that it had been adopted by his grandfather Chandragupta I, and so we cannot follow Hoernle in preferring to ascribe it to the founder of the Gupta empire rather than to his grandson. The weight of the coin 112.5 grains may *prima facie* appear to support Hoernle’s opinion; but it must be remembered that the Bayana hoard has disclosed about a dozen coins of Chandragupta II weighing even less than 112 grains. The light weight of the piece, 112.45 grains, does not therefore by itself render its ascription to Chandragupta II improbable.