The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.6

c13.6

In the sphere of variety and originality, the coinage of Kumāragupta can very well match with that of Chandragupta II or Samudragupta. In artistic merit, however, it shows no uniform standard. His Horseman type is of high artistic merit; the goddess feeding peacock is also generally graceful both on the Tiger-slayer and the Kārtikeya types. The features of the three personages on the Apratigha type are very expressive. Many specimens of the Kārtikeya type are also quite good. The King-and-the-Queen, the Lyrist, the Rhinoceros-slayer, the Elephant-rider and the Elephant-rider-Lion-slayer types also reveal fine mastery in the numismatic art. First rate artists were summoned for the cutting of these rare dies.