The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.s1: Horseman Type

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.s1

Language: English

c13.s1.t1 Class II — 34 parts

Horseman Type

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The Horseman type of Kumāragupta I, is the most popular type of this emperor. The obverse is more or less the same as that of the Horseman type of his father; the king is riding a horse to right or left, sometimes with and sometimes without weapons. The reverse continues the motif of the goddess seated on a wicker-stool in some cases, but in others, it introduces another motif,—goddess feeding a peacock. It is interesting to note that each variety in this type has its own distinctive features in the direction of the horse, the types of its saddle-ornamentation, the weapons of the king, the legend on the obverse and the details of the motif on the reverse. Considerable attention must have been bestowed in determining these minute details of each variety.

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It will be convenient to divide the Horseman type according to the reverse motif, class I consisting of coins where the goddess is sitting alone on the reverse and class II of those pieces where she is feeding a peacock. In each class we shall distinguish several varieties according to the legend on the obverse.

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In Class I variety A (Pl. X. 11-12) the obverse legend is ‘Pṛthivītālambaraśaśi Kumāragupto jayatyajitaḥ’¹ (Pl. XXI. 23) ‘Invincible Kumāragupta, who is as it were the moon in the sky in the form of the earth's surface, is victorious'. The metre is Upagīti. The horse shows a uniform saddle-ornamentation consisting of circular stars on the haunch and the neck; the king bears no weapons. On the reverse the goddess is seated to left on a wicker-stool holding a flower in right hand, which displaces the symbol. The left hand rests empty on the waist.

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¹ This legend could be for the first time deciphered with the help of the specimens preserved in the Bayana hoard. B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XIII. 1 was a coin of this variety, but it was not preserved well enough to permit a successful decipherment.

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In variety B (Pl. X. 13), which is so far represented by a single specimen in the Bayana hoard, the king is riding to left with a bow in the right hand. The horse has no decorated saddle and the legend is *Jayati nṛipo'ribhirajitaḥ*, (Pl. XXI. 24); 'Victorious is the king who is never defeated by the enemies.' The goddess on the reverse is seated on a wicker-stool, but holds a noose in her right hand and a lotus in the left. There is no symbol.

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In variety C (Pl. X. 14-15; XI. 1), the horse faces right and has a different type of saddle-ornamentation. The king carries no arms and the circular legend is *Kṣitipatirajito vijayī Kumāragupto*¹ *divaṃ jayati*; (Pl. XXII. 25); 'The unconquered and victorious king Kumāragupta, wins the heaven.' The metre is Upagīti. The reverse is exactly like that of variety B. Sometimes however (Pl. X. 15), the folds of the noose appear like the neck of the peacock in class II, especially when only its upper part is preserved on the flan. In one case (Pl. XI. 1) the goddess on the reverse seems to be holding no noose in her right hand. We are, however, not certain as to whether the legend on this coin is the same as the one noted above; for it is blurred. It is also unlikely that the noose has been beaten out by a subsequent hammering on the reverse. This coin has also a symbol. Most likely, if more specimens are found of this type, they will be found to be constituting a variety distinct from variety C.

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, p. 70, gives the reading of this legend as *mahendrasimha* instead of *Kumāragupta* as given by us. The specimens given in that catalogue on pl. XIII. 2 and 4, however, show the letter *gupta* fairly distinctly. *Mahendrasimha* can be read on no specimen.

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Coins of all the above varieties were generally issued to the standard of 127 grains.

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In class II, the goddess on the reverse is always feeding a peacock; she is never represented alone. We can distinguish four varieties in this class, as disclosed by the legends. In variety A, (Pl. XI. 2-5) the legend is ‘*Guptakulavyomaśaśi jayatyajeyo’jitamahendraḥ*,’ (Pl. XXII. 26); ‘The unconquered and invincible Mahendra, who is a moon in the sky of Gupta family, is victorious.’ The metre is Upagīti. In this variety, the king always faces right and carries a bow in the left hand, and the goddess on the reverse is seen offering to the peacock a bunch of grapes, in which fruits are more prominent than the twig to which they adhere. The reverse has no symbol. The coins are all issued to the 127 grains standard.

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In variety B (Pl. XI. 6-8), the king always faces to left and carries a bow in the right hand, and a sword hangs by his left side. The legend is ‘*Guptakulāmalachandro mahendrakarmājito jayati*’ (Pl. XXII. 28), ‘The spotless moon (in the firmament) of the Gupta family, the invincible hero, who is as valorous as Mahendra, is victorious.’ The metre is Upagīti. The reverse has the same motif as in variety A, but twigs are more prominent than grapes in the bunch, which the goddess offers to the peacock. The idea may be to show that the feeding is coming to an end. There is a symbol of rather unusual shape on the left in this variety, which is rather unusual in this type. Majority of the coins of this variety were issued to the standard of 127 grains, but about 20% pieces are seen to follow the lighter standard of 124 grains.

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The variety C of class II, (Pl. XI. 9-10) closely resembles the variety C of Class I. (Pl. X. 14-5; XI. 1). In both varieties on the obverse the horse faces right and the king carries no weapons. The legend on both begins with the same words, but there is a slight change at the end; for the legend on the present variety reads ‘*Kshitipatirajito vijayī Kumāragupto* jayatyajitah,’ (and not Kumāragupto divam jayati¹ (Pl. XXII. 27); ‘The invincible and victorious king Kumāragupta carries the day, being undefeated.’ The metre is Upagīti. The reverse shows the goddess feeding peacock, but there are hardly any grapes attached to the twig in her hand; they are all apparently already eaten by the pet. There is no symbol on the reverse.

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¹ In B.M.C., G.D., p. 71, Mr. Allan had assumed this legend to be identical with that on variety C of class I, but some specimens in the Bayana hoard distinctly show that the concluding words are jayatyaji. (Pl. XI. 10). On the only coin in the B.M.C., G.D., where the concluding letters are clear, Pl. XIII. 10, they appear to be gupto jaya; B.M.C., G.D., Class I variety D, (p. 155), which is not illustrated, is probably a coin of this variety.

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In variety D (Pl. XI. 11-13), the king rides to right, holding bow in the left hand. Here the circular legend, which begins at VII, is ‘Prithivitaleśvarendraḥ Kumāragupto jayatyajitah,’ (Pl. XXII. 29); ‘Invincible Kumāragupta, a veritable Indra on the surface of the earth, conquers (the enemy).’ The metre is Upagīti. On the reverse of this type there is a symbol. The goddess has only three or four grapes in her hand and not a bunch or twig of them. It therefore became possible to accommodate the symbol in the upper left corner. In varieties C and D, the weight-standard of 127 grains is followed.

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We shall now give a general description of the Horseman type.

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*Obv:* King, usually nimbate, wearing coat and trousers, riding caparisoned horse to right or left, usually holding bow in the right or left hand, sword sometimes hanging by his side; in some cases he has no weapons. The saddle of the horse often shows artistic decorations. Legends vary with each variety, and have been given above already.

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*Rev:* In Class I, Lakshmī seated on wicker-stool to left, holding a flower or noose in right hand and a lotus in left. In some cases the latter is empty. Usually no symbol. Legend on right, *Ajitamahendraḥ*.

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In class II, Goddess seated as above, feeding by her right hand a peacock with a bunch of grapes and holding in the left a lotus with long stalk. Usually no symbol. Legend on right, *Ajitamahendraḥ*.

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 18

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(Goddess without peacock)

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Variety A¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XIII. 1; I.M.C., Vol. I, p. 113, No. 21.

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(*Pṛthivītālambaraśaśi Kumāragupto jayatyajitaḥ*)²

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² Smith's view that on some coins of this type the legend is *Parama-bhāgavatamahārājādhirāja-śrī-Mahendraguptaḥ* (J.R.A.S., 1889, p. 100) is not correct. The legend has now become quite certain owing to the new specimens in the Bayana hoard.

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(1) Gold; .8"; 126.5 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXII. 4.

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*Obv:* King bare-headed riding to r., without any weapons. Hair of the horse is pleated and there are beautiful circular ornaments in the saddle on the haunch and the neck; these are peculiarities of this variety. King's buttoned coat is graceful. Legend at II, *Pṛthi*, from III, *vitālambaraśaśa*, all blurred; between horse's feet, *Kuma*, at IX, *pto jayatyajita*.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated on a wicker-stool, holding lotus flower with long stalk and leaves in the r. hand.; l. hand resting empty on the hip. Her hair is tied in a knot behind the head. No symbol; legend *Ajitamahendraḥ*.

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(Pl. X. 11)

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(2) Gold; .8"; 127.3 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXII. 1.

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*Obv:* As above; legend from I, *Pṛthivītālambaraśa* quite clear.

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*Rev:* As above. *Ajitamahendra*.

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(Pl. X. 12)

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*(Jayati nṛiporibhirajitaḥ)*

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(3) Gold; .75"; 125.5 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXII. 7.

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*Obv:* King riding to l., legend from I, *Jayata nṛiporibharajitaḥ*.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated to l. on wicker-stool with noose in r. hand and lotus in l. resting on waist. No symbol. Legend, *Ajatamahendraḥ*.

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(Pl. X. 13)

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Variety C

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*(Kṣitipatirajito vijayī Kumāragupto divaṃ jayati)*¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIII. 2-5; *J.A.S.B.*, 1884, i, p. 193, Pl. III. 12; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, Pl. II. 13.

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(4) Gold; .8"; 127 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXII. 8.

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*Obv:* King, bare-headed and wearing coat and probably trousers, riding to r., without weapons; profuse hair on king's head. Saddle remarkable for its beaded ornamentation. Legend, above horse's head *Kṣa*, between his mouth and legs, *tapatara*, between horse's legs, traces of *tava*, from VIII, *maragupta dava jayati*.

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*Rev:* As in variety B. Legend, *Ajatamahandra*.

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(Pl. X. 14)

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(5) Gold; .8"; 127.² grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXV. 10.

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*Obv:* As above. The coat has an open collar. Legend at I, *Kṣatipata*, from IX, *gupta dava jayati*.

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*Rev:* Goddess as above, but the folds of the noose look like the neck of the peacock.² Legend, *Ajatamahandraḥ*.

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² On some other coins also of this type in the Bayana hoard, a portion of the fold of the noose look like the neck of the peacock. If, however, we assume that this coin has a peacock on the reverse, it will belong to variety C of class II. But there the legend ends with *jayatyajitaḥ* and not with *gupto divaṃ jayati*, as on the present coin. The twig of the grape on that variety will have to be regarded as missing on this coin. On the whole it is best to assume that the fold of the noose looks here like the neck of a peacock partially visible.

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(Pl. X. 15)

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*Obv:* As above. Legend, *Kshatapatara*; legend on the left is altogether blurred. *Rev:* Goddess seated to l. on a wicker-stool; noose hammered out (?). Symbol on the l. Legend, *Ajitamahendra*.¹

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¹ The inclusion of this coin in this variety is not quite certain. It may constitute a new variety with a different legend. See *supra*, p. 175.

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(Pl. XI. 1)

Class II

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(Goddess feeding peacock)

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Variety A

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(*Guptakulavyomaśaśi jayatyajeyojitamahendraḥ*)²

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² *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIII, 11-15; *J.A.S.B.*, 1852, Pl. XII. 8.; *J.R.A.S.*, 1893, Pl. III. 6; *N.Ch.*, 1910, Pl. XIV. 7.

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(7) Gold; .8"; 125.8 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIII. 11. *Obv:* King bare-headed and with wig-like hair, riding to r., wearing coat and trousers; mane of the horse is pleated. Legend from I, *Guptakulavyamaśaśa jayatya*. The last letter is between the legs of the horse. *Rev:* Goddess seated on a wicker stool, holding lotus with long stalk in l. hand resting on waist, and feeding the peacock by a bunch of grapes held in r. hand. Grapes are more prominent than the twigs to which they adhere. No symbol. Legend, *Ajitamahendra*.

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(Pl. XI. 2)

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(8) Gold; .8"; 126.6 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIII. 4. *Obv:* As above. Legend from I, *Gupta....śaśa..tya* (at VI). *ya jitamahandra*. *Rev:* As above.

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(Pl. XI. 3)

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(9) Gold; .8"; 125.6 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIII. 5. *Obv:* As above. Legend from I, *Gupta..vamaśaśa* (from V) *jayatyaja* (from IX), *jatamahendra*.

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(10) Gold; .85"; 127 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIII. 7.

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*Obv:* As above. Legend, *Guptakula..śaśa jayatya.ya jita-mahendra.* Notice the peculiar manner in which the king's hair is dressed.

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*Rev:* As above. Notice how the peacock's head is thrust between the twigs of the bunch, one of them being behind and two in front. (Pl. XI. 5)

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Variety B

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(*Guptakulāmalachandro mahendrakarma'jito jayati*)¹

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¹ B.M.C., *G.D.*, Pl. XIII, 16-19; *J.A.S.B.*, 1884, i, Pl. III. 13; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 104, Pl. II. 14.

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(11) Gold; .8"; 126.8 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIV. 3.

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*Obv:* King, bare-headed, riding to l., holding bow in r. hand, sword hanging by l. side. Legend from I, *Guptakula....*, from VI, *mahendra.. jata jayata.*

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*Rev:* Goddess with beautiful torso, seated on wicker-stool, l. hand resting on waist and holding a lotus with long stalk, r. hand holding a bunch of grapes to feed the peacock in her front. Notice how most of the grapes are eaten and twigs are therefore prominent. Symbol on the l. Legend, *Ajitamahendraḥ* in bold characters. (Pl. XI. 6)

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(12) Gold; .85"; 124.4 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIV. 4.

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*Obv:* As above. Legend, from I to V, *Guptakulāmala(cha)-ndra*, (at VI) *mahendrakarmajata jayati.*

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*Rev:* As above. (Pl. XI. 7)

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(13) Gold; .85"; 126.8 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIV. 5.

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*Obv:* As above. Legend, *Guptakulamalachandra*, (the last letter being between the two hind legs), (from VI), *mahendrakarmajito jayati*.

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(Pl. XI. 8)

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(*Kshitipatirajito vijayī Kumāragupto jayatyajitah*)¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XIII. 6-9. For the correct reading of the concluding portion of the legend, see pp. 176-7.

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(14) Gold; .8"; 126.3 grains; Pl. XXIV. 1. *Obv:* King, bare-headed, riding to r., having no weapons, sash flying behind. Legend, *Kshitipatirajato*, traces of *vijayī* below the horse's hoof. *Rev:* Goddess, as on variety B, but she has only twig with one fruit adhering to it in her r. hand. No symbol. Legend, *Ajitamahendra*. (Pl. XI. 9)

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(15) Gold; .85"; 126.4 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXV. 3. *Obv:* As above. Legend at I, *Kshi*, at VIII, *gupta jayatyaji(tah)*. *Rev:* As above. (Pl. XI. 10)

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Variety D

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(*Prithivitaleśvarendraḥ Kumāragupto jayatyajitah*)

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(16) Gold; .8"; 125.7 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXV. 11. *Obv:* King bare-headed, riding to l. carrying bow in l. hand. Legend, beginning at VII, *Prithivitaleśvarendra Ku*. *Rev:* As in variety C, but the goddess has two fruits and no bunch in her r. hand. Lotus in l. hand. Symbol on l. Legend truncated. (Pl. XI. 11)

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.s1: Horseman Type

Contents

Horseman Type

Class II