The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.2

c13.2

The numismatic activity of the reign of Kumāragupta I was more intense and varied than that of Chandragupta II or Samudragupta. The mint-masters were anxious to show their skill by introducing more and more variations and types both in the gold and silver coinage. They revived the King-and-Queen type of Chandragupta I and the Tiger-slayer, the Aśvamedha and the Lyrist types of Samudragupta, which had been discontinued in the previous reigns. They continued the Archer, the Horseman, the Chhatra and the Lion-slayer types, which were very popular in the reign of Chandragupta II; new variations were, however, introduced in most of them. A number of quite new types were also introduced. The emperor was named after Kumāra, the commander-in-chief of gods. It is therefore natural that a new type should be introduced showing this deity on the reverse, the king on the obverse being represented as feeding peacock, the mount of the deity. In the field of war and sport several new types were introduced. The Swordsman type may perhaps show that the emperor claimed to be an expert swordsman. The Elephant-rider type probably refers to the emperor going out for sport. The Elephant-rider-and-lion-slayer type pictures a dramatic and critical moment in the lion hunt from the back of the elephant. The Rhinoceros-slayer type shows the emperor attacking the rhinoceros from the back of a horse. The rare *Apratigha* type is still a mystery. It shows the emperor standing with folded hands and being addressed by an agitated lady on the right and a general on the left. The gold types of Kumāragupta thus show an extraordinary and pleasing variety.