The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c12.14

c12.14

It is, however, possible to argue that the currency in India was largely local; Chandragupta II was compelled to issue silver currency for his subjects in Mālwā, closely resembling that of the Western Kshatrapas. It is similarly possible that when Samudragupta conquered Eastern Mālwā, he might have started copper currency similar in type and character to the Mālava and Nāga coinage that was then current there; Rāmagupta may have continued it. Mālwā has not been properly explored for Gupta coins and we may find copper coins of Samudragupta as well in that province. We are so far aware of no other Rāmagupta than the elder brother of Chandragupta II and the palæography of the coins shows that they belonged to the Gupta period. We can, therefore, identify Rāmagupta of these copper coins with the elder brother of Chandragupta II mentioned in the *Devī-Chandraguptam*. It is true that we have not got any gold coins of Rāmagupta, but it is possible that we may get them in future. Budhagupta, who had ruled for about twenty years, was for a long time known only from his silver coinage. Even now only two of his gold coins have come to light.